whole Church This they could not do as members of one particular Church but as transcendent Officers and as visible Heads of the Catholike Church The Apostles have been called heretofore and that justly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now many and all Churches under the same visible Officers are but one Church many Corporations under one King are but one Body Politick The twelve Tribes in Israel under one King made but one Kingdom 3. The Apostles c. admitted members into the Catholike Church neither in the presence nor under the notion of any particular Church Acts 8. 10. 16. The Eunuch Cornelius the Jaylor and such like were baptized members of no visible Church if there was not a visible Church Universal Ecclesia non est Resp non aristocratio sed regnum Beza Ep. 83. p. 367. 4. Christ is one visible Head one Master of the family one Bishop one King visibly by vertue of his Laws and Ordinances and works of special providence in the Churches Christ walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks Rev. 1. and sitteth in the midst of two or three gathered together in his Name Matth. 18. Thus a King though absent from his Kingdom is a visible King in his Kingdom The King of England is visibly King of Scotland though he makes his abode and keeps his Court in London 5. The Church of the Jews was a type and patern of the Christian Church Ezek. 40.41 42. Revel 11.1 2. compared with Rev. 21. The Church of the Jews consisted of many Tribes and many Cities yet was but one Body politick The great Synedrian of Jerusalem might resemble the great Presbytery of the Apostles and extraordinary Elders in respect of more ordinary execution in Primitive days and Synods and Councels in respect of lesse ordinary execution in succeeding ages Acts 12.1 Eph. 3.21 1 Tim. 3.15 6. It is correspondent to Scripture-phrase the visible Church is termed in Scripture one Universal Church Matth. 16.18 the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described as acting visibly in the administrations of the Keys This may be more fully proved in another place See Calvin Instit lib. 4. cap. 1. In Eph. 4. the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described by its visible Officers Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers 1 Cor. 12 the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described by its visible Officers in like manner Rev. 11.1 2 3 the Universal Church is described as visible by one city by one court and is called the outward court and so distinguished as it is visible from the mystical Church which is resembled by the Temple 7. The mystical Union of Brotherhood doth naturally constitute one Body mystical Why should not the visible Union of Brotherhood in profession constitute one Body visible The Lord severed the children of Israel into Tribes yet so as that all might be one Body under one Prince and Priest 8. All natural grounds of fellowship in particular Churches in respect of more ordinary execution A sin against authority is a greater sin an evil inflicted by authority is a greater evil do bespeak fellowship in one Catholike Church in point of lesse ordinary execution Brotherly Union Christian profession the edification of the Church the celebration of the Name of Christ all these are prevalent Christ is glorified most eminently in the great Assembly Pride and Independence are inseparable If the children of Jacob had been divided into Tribes as independent States they might soon have rejected one another as Esaeu and Jacob did The notion of a relation doth cherish affection and maintain union 9. The manner of admission in Primitive days obligeth to all Churches to the whole Church as well as to a particular Church 2 Chron. 15.12 34.31 As all Israel together was wont to professe their purpose to walk according to the Law before the Lord so all converts in Primitive days did professe their purpose to walk with all Saints in all the Ordinances of Christ That covenant which converts then made seemeth to be general with reference to all Churches Thus then the Church Militant is one visible Body one House one Family one Tabernacle one Temple one Candlestick one Citie one New Jerusalem Rev. 21. this Jerusalem hath twelve gates and these gates are particular Churches which do admit into the whole City as well as into the particular gates every gate is an entry into the city and all in the city have a virtual admission thorow every gate Every Common-wealth hath power offensive secondarily for the defending of it self or any other in case of oppression Abraham had power to rescue Lot but this power is not equal to the power of Churches God hath distinguished Esau from Jacob in point of Politie but God hath united the children of Jacob by one staff of beauty and another of bonds both by temporal and spiritual authority before Christ came God hath altered the constitution of the world sin hath rent the world in pieces but God hath repaired and united the Church by an Uniformity of Ordinances and by an identity of profession under one visible Head the Lord Christ All Saints are next brethren as the children of Jacob were and united by a perpetual bond The Churches do approve of each others acts by mutual consent when one Church admitteth members electeth Officers dispenseth Censures it acts for all Churches What is done by one gate in Jerusalem is done by the whole city intuitu Beza Ep. 68. p. 290. though not interventu totius Ecclesiae as Master Parker distinguisheth to another purpose Lastly it is generally supposed that all Churches have power to act together and to exert power of Jurisdiction in a General Councel Calvin is expresse Instit l. 4. c. 8 9. And if this be granted it follows that the Church is one visibly It could not act as one in a General Councel if it were not one visibly Operari sequitur esse Object The whole Church hath no visible Head Answ Particular Churches are visible Churches when they are destitute of visible Officers The whole Church accordingly may be one visible Body without any visible Officers at least in respect of power to act conjunctim ordinarily 2. Christ is supposed to be a visible Head in some respect and Ecclesiastical Policie is acknowledged to be Monarchical in respect of Christ Judg 8.23 Josephus observes that there was a Monarchical Theocracie in Israel we may as well conclude that there is such a Monarchie in the Christian Church to the end of the world 3. The Church is one so as to act ordinarily as one divisim And therefore when a particular Presbytery excommunicateth any person he doth excommunicate that person out of all particular Churches or the Universal Church and that by the authority of the universal Church because there is such a mutual consent in all Churches Pastores saith Chamier si
for Civil Peace Though a Prince hath not all the means to make a good man which a Priest hath yet he hath some and is to improve them for the making of his Subjects good men Spiritually as well as Civilly and he that is integrè bonus this est bonus vir in respect of all vertues in both Tables Else why is it the duty of Magistrates to Instruct Pray provide by Laws c. for the preservation and promotion of Religion 3. Mr. Porker lib. 1. cap. 34. Such ends were primary ends of Magistracy in Adâ—â—s only we must remember that axiome Fiâ—oâ—s leges non eadere sub legens 4. The Priesthood it self is naturally a branch of Magistracy it remained in the Patriarchs till God severed one from the other and God did not give all Spiritual power to Aaron when he distinguished the Priesthood much remined still in Moses 5. The Oecumenical power of a Master of a Family is not Ecclesirstical yet he hath Spiritual power to Teach Pray Bless command as he is a Pater-sansllias 6. Else a Magistrate is a Magistrate must subordinate the first Table to the second the glory of God to the Temporal good of men God to man Religion to civllity 7. A Magistrate when he Prays blesseth or commandeth all to seek the God of Israel as he his Castes utriusque tabula is not supposed to use any of these means in the first place for the Temporal prosperity of the Common-wealth Must a Magistrate as a Magistrate pray only for Corn Wine and Oyl or may he serve God only for Corn Wine and Oyl and bless only with the dew of Heaven and satness of the Earth A Physitian indeed 〈◊〉 Physitian doth only heal and intend to heal the natural man because he hath only natural mediums but a Magistrate hath Spiritual mediums as he is a Magistrate A Magistrate as a man may make a Temporal being his first and last and only end but as a Magistrate he intends both Temporals and Spirituals A Christian as a man may be for the world but as a Christian he is for the Lord. A Magistrates Office is Spiritual though the Magistrates person be Prophane and Heathenish Concerning the extent of Magistratical or Princely Power in making of Laws or Power of Iurisdiction in the CHURCH MAgistrates have power to declare the express Laws of Christ with Authority Pro. 1. and also the implicite Laws of Christ though not expressed 1. This is requisite to the perfection of Magistracy otherwise it hath not compleat power to procure its ends Somtimes there is need of present action somtimes the Churches do degenerate the Ship may perish while the Mariners are consulting 2. Magistrates have coactive power over such as are not Members to compel them to the outward acts of Religion why not over Members and Churches in like maner 3. Magistrates have Spiritual power enough Isa 49. as it hath been demonstrated 4. The Church is subordinate to Magistrates they owe but fatherly respect to the Church in Magistratical acts 5. The Magistrates in Israel were acknowledged to have such power and so to be protectors of Religion and Piety as well as of Civility The Priests and Levites were subject to the Kings Solomon could deprive Abiathar of the Priesthood Magistrates therefore may circumstantiate Church-meetings Lectures command Fasting days 2 Chron. 19.11 24.6 29. 30 31. and Thanksgiving days Synods Councels c. they ought to maintain their fatherly relation at least their fatherly relation bespeaks this power The Kings of Israel took care for the ordering of all things in the house of God disposing of the Ark while it abode in Tents commanded Feasts and Fasts and the Priests and Levites were very subordinate Magistrates power is directive Spiritually not Ecclesiastically even in acts of their office Obj. Magistrates have a directive power in Churches externally though not intrinsceally The policy of Israel was mixt this may be objected Ans Their Ecclesiastical power was distinguished from the Magistratical the Priests and Levites had their proper acts both in respect of order and Jurisdiction also 2. What the Kings of Israel could do as Magistrates in Israel that is permitted now in Magistrates by the Laws of Christ Extraordinary Magistrates such as Moses and David could indeed do many things which were proper to Ecclesiastical power they were great Prophets But the ordinary power of the King or the Prince or of the Priest was then distinguished as now the power of the Magistrate and of the Church Vot estis in Ecclesia ego extra-Ecclesiam Episcopus So Constantine Pro. 2. Magistrates are to allow the Church of Christ to circumstantiate its own archnatural mediums and circumstances in respect of decency and order within its self 1. The Church best knows what is expedient and therefore is most fit Ecclesiastical disputes are not so proper to the cognizance of Magistrates 2. It is necessary for the subsistance of Churches to have such power 3. The Apostles exercised this power Acts 15. and declared this power to the Corinth 1.14 4. Magistrates are subordinate to the Churches in respect of all Church power 5. The Church is an honorable and independent society under the Lord Christ is Priviledges are purchased by the blood of Christ 6. Magistrates are to consult and give counsel with and to the Church in acts of another nature before they command Hezekiah was a Royal president to Magistrates in this point 2 Chron. 30. Rom. 14.1 What Bilson saith serves this purpose Commissio est à Christo permissio à Magistratis Magistradies must tolerate some things which the Church may not the Church must tolerate that which Magistrates may not Non curat Lex de minimis Magistrates may not make unlimited Laws touching things good in their general nature because such things may be unexpedient in circumstances That which Gods Law doth absolutely prohibite is alwayes evil in its particular nature The matter of Gods Law ought to be the compasse of mens Law Magistratus non est dominus sed author legis Suarez defines a Law to be commune praceptum justum sufficientur promulgatum There may be somtimes Causa paenae ubi non est culpa in the civil State In things indifferent as when one thing compared with another is no better then another a Law may alter the case yet Magistrates ought to provide for the majesty and efficacy of Laws by the paucity and necessity of them and even in matters indifferent Ratio legis is necessary as well as voluntas Legistatoris Magistrates must punish an offence as reflecting upon the Civil State when they might tolerate it as an offence to the Church Quest What if Magistrates take too much upon them Ans They are to be obeyed passively 2. There must be a forbearance in respect of acting until due means of information be used 3. After due means of information there must not be
meet to request assistance for exhortation together with prayer and blessing as also for the satisfaction of other Churches concerning the faith and order of such a Church But for a Fast of constitution for a concourse of Churches and their messengers and solemnities in way of covenant unto the rearing of particular Churches I finde no Apostolical direction or footstep of primitive practice A feast of dedication may seem as sutable as a fast for constitution Apostles and such like were present and did something in separating the brethren but for explicite covenanting pro modo forma I finde nothing Explicite covenanting and searching of the conscience may be a dispensation too violent and compulsory in respect of the facility of Gods grace in point of acceptance The Ordinances of the covenant of grace are sutable to the grace of the covenant The Elders of the cities of refuge did not expostulate with such as fled before the avenger of blood in way of any explicite covenant or exquisite examination Josh 20. The Eunuch did not promise by any covenant explicite what he would be he onely shewed what he did believe or what he was Excesse of complements in solemnities formalities punctualities is unsutable to the simplicity and spirituality of the Gospel and also fully forbidden in the second commandment Calvin in his commentary on Rom. 14.3 4. maketh Knowledge a sufficient testimony that a man is received of God When thou seest a man saith he illuminated with the knowledge of God Satis testimonii habes quod a Deo assumptus sit And he addeth that we ought to hope well of any one in quo cernimus aliquid Dei Confessions of Faith have been deemed sufficient for mutual communion of Churches either by writing or word of mouth Concerning the Power of the Church THe body of members women and such as are unmeet to govern Pro. 1. excepted hath all power originally and essentially The body of members is the immediate subject of the Keys 1. Every being be it never so subordinate hath a defensive power and the Church or body of members is a seat and society of Authority and therefore hath power both offensive and defensive within it self Those churches Acts 14.23 had no proper Officers when they were called churches and there is no intimation that their Officers made them churches Officers are not the like and soul of churches 2. Else the church shall be left destitute of necessary supports for its subsistence times may come in which no Elders are to be obtained for many particular churches Such as are wholly subject have a defensive power according to the law of Nature David and Elisha thought it lawful to defend themselves Israel defended Jonuthan 3. 2 Kings 6.32 3. It is natural that the Whole should have Soveraignty over its parts especially when parts are equal or pares If all members in the body had an eye all should give direction according to the order of nature 4. The church hath relation of a Spouse unto Christ and it is meet that the Spouse should have power some way or other in absence of the Husband 5. The church hath power to give the Keys therefore it hath power to act the Keys 6. Those which have power in other Societies to elect their Governours have power also to act themselves yea to reserve to themselves what power they please in respect of those that are elected And if the church be a church in propriety when it hath no Officers then it hath an offensive power over such as are within and a defensive power towards those without as all Beings have which are sui juris Object The church may have the Keys to give yet not to act A messenger may carry a commission and yet have no power to open or execute the commission Answ The Arguments from the constitution of the church do prove that the church hath power to act as well as it can until it be furnished with Officers 2. The churches power of election is forcible of it self unlesse there be something against the proportion of the churches power as compared with other Societies 3. The church is not onely the conduit but the onely ordinary fountain of power upon earth 4. The members have all of them gifts for edification 1 Cor. 12.5 In Israel the whole body did act as well as elect though when they had Magistrates they could onely exercise a defensive power in interposing with or against their Magistrates and that onely for demonstrable causes not scandalously circumstantiated The memberâ— may act in the way of charity and of natural Office the Elders onely in way of Stewardship or instituted Office the people by a natural law the officers by a positive law The members have gifts and therefore may act as a potentia ad actum valet argumentum The people may give that which it hath onely virtually and act that which it hath formally or in potentia proxima Object There is not the same reason for supernatural Societies as for natural for the power of supernatural Societies as for the power of natural Societies Answ Supernatural Societies are as perfect as natural Societies and therefore if natural Societies have power within themselves for their subsistence the church must have the like Object The church cannot administer the Seals without Officers Answ The church hath power to act all Ordinances that are essential to its primary and natural integrality that are necessary to its being or first being though without Officers it cannot dispense some Ordinances as are necessary to its well-being or secondary being and essential to its secondary integrality The church hath not an organick integrity but it hath an essential integrity before it hath Officers The people have power to elect and authorize their own Officers Pro. 2. 1. The people did something in the election of Matthias Act. 1. the members elected Deacons Acts 6. 2. The Officers have no constant and ordinary mean of calling but from the church and body of members they do not receive their Office immediately from Christ and they cannot receive it immediately always from other Elders The power of Officers is dependent on the church not the power of the church on the Officers The church is greater then its Officers in respect of priority fontality finality stability and dignity Master Parker hath abundantly demonstrated this assertion in his Ecclesiastical Policie and that from principles maintained by Gerson a Papist 3. It was a continued custome from the Apostles days that the people did elect their Officers consuetudo est bona juris interpres Calvin hath demonstrated this point from Cyprian Calvin is for some consent Cal. Instit l. 4. c. 3. Sect. 5. Beza Epist 83. p. 365. Beza for an implicite consent The election of the people gives the Keys at least incompleatly when they have Elders because their consent is necessary together with the consent of the Elders The Elders have
naturally a negative voice in point of election but they cannot compleatly elect any Officer without the consent of the people That act which doth give authority is an act of authority the peoples consent in election doth give authority The assumption is thus proved That which doth compleat the authoritative act of the Elders or which doth adde authority to the Elders act that act doth give authority but the consent of the people doth at least compleat the act or adde authority to the act of the Elders in election 5. Either Election or Ordination alone or both together do give the Keys not Ordination alone therefore Election doth give the Keys either in toto or ex parte In Rome it was wont to be said that authoritas was in Magistratu Potestas in plebe Majestas in populo 6. Ordination doth not give the Keys essentially therefore Election doth give the Keys 1. It appears from the nature of Ordination Ordination is but a solemn declaration and confirmation of a person in Office Ordinatio est testificatio complementum electionis 2. The body of members gave the Keys essentially to their proper Officers in the resurrection and restitution of the church out of Antichristianism There is no sufficient testimony of their immediate call and the church of Rome had lost its power 3. Election is not onely a signe of Office then an officer should be an officer before he be elected and before he be ordained also because Ordination was wont to follow Election 4. The Priests and Levites were essentially Officers before they were ordained Ordination was but a circumstance to the hereditary right of the Levitical tribe 5. The fathers and masters of families were Priests before the Law essentially and absolutely without any Ordination The ceremonial Ordination under the Law is abrogated and Ordination under the Gospel is onely moral and a complement of Election Doctor Ames compareth Ordination to the coronation of Princes and inauguration of Magistrates in his Bellar. Ener 6. Election in other Societies doth give the authority The gift of edification faculty or aptitude is presupposed to Election the authority or Office is conferred by Election by Election sufficienter by Ordination abundanter Reformed churches have attributed liberty to the people in point of Election for the general Polanus saith that an Elder is ordained in the name of the church Object Election is but an act of subjection Answ Such an act of subjection transmitteth that power which the church had formerly within it self unto the Officers and therefore giveth authority unto the Officers Every one that is sui juris or so far as any one is sui juri he is so far indued with authority within himself and therefore a servant giveth authority to his master a servant I say giveth a master authority over himself by putting himself under his masters authority and by giving over to his master that authority which he had over himself while he was free Object The members have not sole power of Election where there are Officers Answ The power of Election is primitively in the body of members though secondarily there be a negative and an authoritative voice in the Elders as Elders The common members are not meet Organs to ordain their Officers Pro. 3. 1. Common members have not co-ordinate power to act with their Officers but Officers elected are essentially Officers in respect of them at least An Elder elect is supposed fittest to preach and pray for preparation unto his own ordination 2. Ordination includes prayer as a part thereof and the Elder elect is fitter to pray then the common members 3. Ordination includes a blessing and this blessing supposeth a meliority in order Heb. 7. The Officers are to blesse the people and not the people the Officers in way of church-order 4. Ordination is an act of consecration Numb 8. but the Officers are to consecrate the people not the people the Officers Such as have been sent in way of special office have been onely found to send others in point of Ordination both in the old and new Testament The Fathers have observed it so Religiously as to appropriate Ordination to the Bishop The church is greater then its officers in point of priority and finality and dignity but the Officer are greater in authority and power of execution Christiani sumus propter nos Augustine Pastores sumus propter vos 5. The Apostles and extraordinary Elders would never have taken ordination out of the peoples hands if it had belonged to them because they did not deprive them of the power of election Object In case of general Apostacies there can be no ordinary way of ordination Answ In case no Elders can be acquired election doth suffice The members do give power immediately of acting some Ordinances The members have formally some power to teach and the commission of Christ giveth them power to baptize which have the power of office to teach Matth. 28.19 The church of common members have not formally and actually power to administer the Seals but it hath power efficiently and virtually The Sun giveth life though it hath no potentia proxima of life the foul hath power to see virtually because it hath power to frame its organs and convey power to them so the members have power to set up Officers and to convey power to them for the administration of the Seals and thus qui possidet dispensat 2. God in extraordinary passages of providence did ordain the Apostles Moses ordained Aaron but who ordained Moses Ordination is not essential we may not make ordination with Scotus and Franciscus a Sacrament Ordination is not so necessary to a Minister as the Sacrament to a christian and yet a christian is a christian though he never partake of a Sacrament The Papists themselves hold it sufficient to be baptized in voto Object The people of Israel are said to anoint Solomon 1 Chron. 20.22 Answ It s evident that they anointed him by some sacred person even as they did Zadoc the Priest not immediatly but by some Nathan c. Object Members may elect which is the greater therefore they may ordain which is the lesser Answ Ordination is an act of order as well as of jurisdiction Some Papists place the essence of Ordination in that form of words Be thou a Priest Where shall we finde the very form of Ordination in the Scriptures We conceive that it consisteth in Solemnities connatural to the confirmation of Election and prayer and blessing which are acts of order are acts of Ordination Those that can do the greater may not do the lesser unlesse it be of the same kinde Object The Levites were ordained by the hands of the congregation Answ 1. Upon the same ground the members should now ordain and their proper Elders stand by 2. The Levites were ordained by Aaron and the Priests Numb 8.3 Imposition of hands by the congregation was proper to the ceremonial offering of the
word of exhortation and not ask the consent of the church c. And where are the ancient bounds By what rule are they subordinate to the church in other acts Are they not separated to execute all the standing laws of Christ Why should they depend upon the determinations of the people who are chosen to interpret Christs laws unto the people and that in way of authority as being set over the people Praeceptive power without corrective power as one saith is like a sword without an edge 9. Arg. 9. Deu. 21.5 The Elders are rulers governors set over the church and have power to command to admonish as superior in authority judicial 1 Thes 5.12 The church is charged to obey their elders as over-shadowing persons in that way of government Heb. 13.17 The angels are rebuked for the corruptions of the churches of Asia as if it had been in their power to prevent and redresse How could Diotrephes have the face to arrogate such Prelatical power if the Presbyters had not power of jurisdiction in their hands The Levites were to carrie the Tabernacle under the priests the government was praeordinately upon the priests shoulders The church is to be carryed not to carry to obey not to command to be subject not to govern Those that allowed elders nothing but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the French churches do wholy sute our practise Object The peoples consent is necessary in the way of liberty not in the way of authority Answ 1. If the peoples denial of consent must bind the Elders so that they cannot proceed and the elders denial of consent doth not bind the people when a case is voted then the bodie of members hath more authority then the Elders 2. If the elders and body of members have a negative voice for the binding of each other then we make the church to consist of two co-ordinate societies but altogether gratis as far as I understand the Scripture 3. A binding power is a power of authority Matth. 16. and 18. Joh. 20. And authority may be natural as well as instituted The people have authority by a natural law originally the elders by a positive law And if the people have power by a natural or hereditary right in point of ordinary execution their authority of ordinary execution doth so far excel the power of elders as heriditary Monarchy doth excel that which is elective and so it is in an Aristocracy 4. A necessity of the members consent doth constitute church-government excessively Democratical In Rome in Athens c. they were far from such a Democracy as wherein all the people did govern constantly with their Magistrates and yet they are reputed Democratical An absolute Monarch saith one is not bound to a Parliament and grant but an absolute Aristocracy a Parliament or general court shall have but a consultative power not a binding or authoritative power Chamier professeth that he hath not seen one that affirmeth church-policie to be Democratical But if the consent of the members be absolutely necessary in ordinary execution certainly church policie is Democratical or else there neither hath been nor is any Democracy in the world where there are Magistrates Truth is where Magistrates are bound to the judgement of the people in ordinary execution they are but titular magistrates and where elders are bound to the judgement of the members they are but moderators or titular governors 5. Liberty is relative Dâ—mâ—â—lcus Silâ— in the Councel of Trâ—â—â— made liberty opposite either to necessity or servitude Potestas in sâ— lâ—bertâ—â— dicitur distinguitur a pâ—â—â—statâ— in aliâ—â— Grâ—â— de Jure 〈◊〉 l. 1. p 4. and imports directly in a civil or moral sence but an immunity from servitude or authority but the consent of the members in admissions and censures doth bind and loose and is an act of power over others Liberty in propriety directly argues that a man is not under authority but not that a man is in authority over others A Jury in a Court is a transient Magistracy though not a standing Magistracy The Commons in Parliament which have a binding vote are transient governors 6. The consent of the members doth give authority therefore it is an act of authority Nihil dat quod non habet The act of the elders in binding and loosing is an act of authority and it is incomplete separated from the consent of the members 7. The consent of the members in election is an act of authority therefore their consent in point of execution if it be absolutely necessary or if it be a resignation of liberty in both is an act of authority Liberty imports directly an immunity from authority out of a mans self indirectly that a man hath authority over himself A free man is sui juris as he is properly said to be free now when a people resigneth this liberty either to Magistrates or Ministers it resigneth that authority which was formerly resident in themselves 〈◊〉 65. p 28.5 Ruther p. 50. 8. Corrective and coactive power is authority and this consent of the members doth complete the corrective and coactive power of the people over which they were governours The consent of the people is desireable and many godly men speak much this way which do not esteem it absolutely necessary It is desireable humaniâ—atis gratia as one speaketh of a Parliament in an absolute monarchy not necessitas gratia If Politicks do truly affirm those Kingdoms to be best established where their Kings are hereditary and do nunquam interire as they speak how miserably is that church constituted that hath never any governors or none but the ghost-like apparitions of governors Our elders may well be called ghostly fathers and ghostly governors which have but the shadow of authority perfectly in them I might argue farther from the definition of authority authority in the general is but jus regendi and if the consent of the members do necessarily bind and that jure divine it is fully correspondent to the definition Azorius his definition of authority or any other that ever I met with doth make a binding consent an act of authority we use to divide power but into a power of might and a power of authority a power of liberty is reduced to a power of authority Governors and to govern with coactive power art conjugates Are they not proper governors which shall govern the people over which they are governors onely when the people themselves list a An Indian is bound as well as a member to obey a minister if a minister may preach to an Indian vi officii It is not enough to say that the members are bound to obey the doctrinal sentence of the elders clave 〈…〉 vi officii or in respect of a preceptive power they are bound to obey the exhortation of any private brother vi materiae which it but little different when he speaketh according to the rule where there is no preceptive superior or
judicial power It is but equal that governors or rulers should have judicial power to constrain obedience which is inconsistent with a necessity of the members consent If an absolute Aristocracy be for the general lesse dangerous then a Democracy there is lesse danger in the church then in the Common-wealth from such an Aristocracy because the medium of government in the church is rather swasive then coactive Elders are to govern verbo non gladia Such governors do best become the Church as may eminently represent the kingly office of Christ at least as evidently as the priestly and prophetical office of Christ It is supposed that a King or Monarch may be complete in respect of ordinary execution and yet the Soveraignty or Majesty reside in the Kingdom and an Aristocracy may be complete in respect of ordinary execution and yet that Soveraignty or Majesty reside in the Common-wealth Where the people have power to set up and pul down Magistrates with an offensive power there is a Democracy in being or constitution if not in ordinary action or execution Epist 67. and 68. Arg. 10. Num. 21.16.17 1 Chr. 26. And a power defensive or a power to except and interpose in case of just defence is connatural to all bodies or beings civil or natural where the Soveraignty or Majestie is lost or given away to such as bear the ensignes of authority Bexa is for an implicite consent of the people in election but resolute against it in other cases non tantum periculosum sed etiam iniquuns esse totum caetum is suffragia witti Epist. 83. pag. 36. 10. The relations of elders to churches do challenge power complete They are antitypical the eyes heads fathers princes of the Congregation Moses and the Princes did represent Christ and his Apostles and Elders They are the Captains of the Lords Host Moses and the Princes digged the well and sang to it to denote how Christ and the Elders do digge the well of salvation and sing the new song of salvation to the Israel of God Though proâ—atiâ— uniâ—â— be probatiâ— nullius sometimes yet such as these both together and apart may be vehemently perswasive Some do scruple at the calling of the Ministere heads of the Churches and indeed there is no universal head beside Christ but yet ministers may be called heads of particular churches in that sence as they are fathers and rulers 11. It was Gods Ordinance in Israel In all Courts Arg. 11. Lev. 13. Num. 35. Deut. 19.12 in the Temple in the Cities of Refuge in the Synagogues the elders had full power of execution The Priests did onely determine concerning the Leprosie The Levits themselves did open and shut were porters under the Priests This Ordinance of God seemeth to be grounded on moral equity we generally find an equity in Gods Ordinances as well as a ceremony And it is most sutable to nature it being unnatural for the multitude to execute I is true that the people of God are â—â—â—â—isted to a neâ—â—â— communion with God in worship then under the Law but it is true in respect of the Elders as well as of the common members And we are freed from the ceremony of the Mosaical Ordinances not from the equity 12. Arg. 12. That power which is ascribed to the Priests and Levites Ezek. 44.23 24. must needs type out the power of elders in the Christian church The whole chapter and prophesie concerneth the Christian church The civil acts in Israel were a typical pattern of the Christian church as well as the Temple The Priests and the Levits must stand in judgement and judge and determine controverfies in the church Deut. 19.17 By their word shall all strife be tryed Deut. 21.5 They shall give the sentence of judgement and thou shalt not decline from their judgement they are separated for this purpose by the Lord Deut. 17.9.11 Allegories are Argumentative when they are evident And though all things are not exactly typed out in the ceremonies at least in all ceremonies yet it is our duty to observe that which is representative The Priests were types of all spiritual men in opposition to natural men but they were types also of Elders in respect of their special office as they are opposed to the Saints in general 13. Arg. 13. Elders are titles of authority the notation thereof alludes to the Elders under the Law Pastors are titles of authority the notation thereof alludes to the use of the phrase in the Scriptures and it is applyed even to Civil Magistrates Shepherds do govern as well as feed and Elders are to feed by authority as well as by doctrine The Priests under the Law had complete power in the Temple 1. To admit into the outward Court 2. To administer at the Altar and Laver the Covenants and Doctrines and the sence of Regeneration and Justification of Mortification and Vivification 3 To administer about the Table and Candlestick for the increase of faith and love and joy Thus the Elders are to institute and make disciples and after institution by the doctrine of the Covenants to confirm by Baptism and then build them up unto perfection by teaching them all things Matth. 28.18 Go make Disciples in all Nations baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Admission into the outward Court seemeth to signifie initiation into the visible Church the Altar and Laver and Table the gradual proceeding from grace to grace of those that are worshippers of God in spirit and in truth of inward worshippers of God of such as belong to the mystical Church Rev. 11.2 3. c. True converts are first brought to the altar of faith repentance and mortification and then to the laver for the confirmation of sanctification and justification by the doctrines and seals of the blood and spirit of Christ 14. What the Apostles could do in all Churches Arg. 14. that the ordinary Elders can do in respect of ordinary administrations and ordinary exemption within the sphaeres of their particular Churches And the Apostles could admit excommunicate threaten the rod make decrees c. They did not ask the vote of the Church in admissions or excommunications Acts 2. 1 Tim. 1. Philip himself could admit without the Church Acts 8. Paul bids Timothy and Titus to command and rebuke Tit. 1. Mr. Cartwright hath done enough for this point in his Reply If the Apostles had deprived the people of any power due to them in respect of their Elders they would have taken election out of their hands If the Apostles had power in all Churches in respect of ordinary administrations as Elders then they differ from ordinary Elders but as an Aristocracy in a Common-wealth from an Aristocracy in one City or as the great Synedrion of elders in Jerusalem from the lesser Synedrions in the Cities What power the Apostles had in all Churches as elders that power all elders must have in their
particular churches because they also are elders The twelve gates of new Jerusalem Rev. 21. are the particular churches the angels are Presbyters and are set to govern the gates the gates are not to open and shut of themselves but the angels are to open and shut the gatâ—s in the use of the keys The 4. beasts Ezek. 1. compared with those in Rev. 4. and the 4. orders of Levites about the Tabernacle Numb 4. may well seem to represent the elders of the Christian Church by which the Lord Christ is carried up and down to the World in the chariot of church ordinances The churches are represented by wheels which should readily follow the elders in way of obedience neither go before nor side by side together with their Elders Object The Apostles received their power immediatly from Christ Answ The same power may be derived mediatly which is derived immediatly The question is concerning the power of elders not concerning the manner of comming by it And the Apostles power was universal and extraordinary Object The Apostles wrote in the name of the church as well as in their own name Acts 15. Answ 1. The Apostles were wont to respect the Church so as to do all things in a brotherly manner 2. The Church is not named in respect of authority it had not authority over other churches and those decrees are called the decrees of the Apostles and elders Acts 16. Those elders must be supposed to be extraordinary elders else they might not be joyned with the Apostles in point of such an extent in authority 3. There was special cause to make mention of that churches consent because those questions did spring out of that church It is certain that the Apostles could determine without the church Paul had power to command and ordain 1 Cor. 16. and 1 Cor. 11. and 14. What though extraordinary elders might be the churches messengers by way of intreaty it was not by way of authority 5. The Church of Antioch sent to the Apostles and elders not to the church The Apostles and elders extraordinary were a great and standing Presbyterie of the universal Church Act. 14. I see no intention or intimation of a Synod or assembly of Churches in that act of the Apostles at Jerusalem The Apostles were onely called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chamier observeth Object The Apostles had an infallible spirit Answ The infallibility of spirit answers to the transcendency and universality of power in all Churches Ordinary elders have a spirit of excellency in respect of common members If the infallibility of spirit in the Apostles may admit of a limitation in respect of election why not in other acts also if they had been connatural to the power of the members 15. Arg. 15. It is sutable to the law of nature that the power of execution should be committed by the multitude to some elected and selected ones Adam had been a perpetual Monarch of the whole world according to a natural right if he had not sinned What should have deprived him of his natural titles What need of altering the natural frame of policy Bodin doth justly dispute for the ancient power of Fathers Fatherly power is the absolutest image of Gods absolute dominion and the most exact pattern of all power The natural constitution of the world yeeldeth no documents for a Democracy for a Democratical execution of power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Facile imperium in bonos Primum illud certum est si humano judicio res aestimetur nullum statum aut pagi aut vici aut urbis aut regionis aelieujus magis obnoxium esse turbis quam Democraticum Beza Ep. 83. p. 365. I conclude Let this discourse be compared with the practise of Reformed Churches of the church of Geneva and the peoples approbation or consent required by Calvin and others will amount to no more then I have acknowledged As for Cyprian he could censure yea even elect officers without the consent or counsel either of the Clerus it self If Calvin did attribute more power to the people in his writings then Beza yet their practise doth argue an accord in conclusion And Calvin in his Catechisme and in a Tractate de Coena Domini attributes power of dispensing censures without the consent of the church unto the elders Object Matth. 18. We are bid tell the church and the church is no where taken for the Presbyterie in the new Testament Answ 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used for any assembly in the new Testament Acts 19.39 and therefore is applicable to an assembly of elders even according to its use in the new Testament 2. See Calvin Instit l. 4. c. s 3.4.7 The Presbyterie is called the congregation or church in the old Testament Namb. 35. with Deut. 19.12 Mr. Ainsworth and Mr. Cartwright have abundantly proved this point and Mr. Cartwright alledgeth many places of Scripture to shew that church in this place signifieth the Presbyterie Mr. Rutherford affirmeth the congregation in the old Testament is alwaies taken for the Presbyterie when it is meant of an authoritative congregation Our Saviour may well be supposed to conform his speech to the old Testament rather then to the new Testament to the use of the phrase at that time when he spake not so much to the future use of it in the new Testament 3. Our Saviour doth manifestly allude to the Presbyteries of the Jewes and gives the Christian church a pattern from the practise of the Jewish church One would not think that our Saviour should speak of an unknown church and not describe it because he directs the disciples to repair to it to direct one to a place unknown and unknowable is but labour in vain Besides those phrases heathen and publican and two or three witnesses do argue that our Saviour referred his speech to the Jewish church Two or three witnesses were required by a State rule in their civil Judicature and it was grounded upon morality and therefore to be observed in their Ecclesiastick proceedings to censure They might not have found out such a rule though naturally moral by the reach of natural light but being instructed by Gods Ordinance they could easily discern the morality thereof especially the Prophets and men of God which were raised up continually amongst them 4. The church is here explicated in the next words What you shall bind shall be bound in heaven If the church had been taken for the body of members it should in probability have run thus What it shall bind shall be bound in heeven 5. Else this rule did nothing concern the Apostles considered personally but they were personally to practise themselves according to this rule The Apostles were neither to judge together with such a church nor to be judged by such a church as consisted of the body of members 6. Is it likely that our Saviour should bid a brother repair in the first place to the body of
members What do the elders then serve for 6. The promise to two or three doth somewhat declare what church is here meant The former words What you shall bind c. seem to be referred to the Apostles then present these words Where two or three are gathered together in my name c. seem to be referred to ordinary elders which were to follow And these two or three elders may justly be supposed to be an ordinary Presbyterie and they are proportionate to the two or three elders which constituted Presbyteries in the lesser cities of Israel The two or three here intended are not the same with the two or three witnesses before mentioned 1. Such a private proceeding doth not constantly admit of prayer 2. Christs presence in the midst of them argueth a more solemn assembly then that of the witnesses 3. So solemn a promise intimateth some great difficulty in the act to which it is applyed 4. Our Saviour hath manifest reference to such as did bind and loose in the words going before 5. It is spoken in conformity to a church then erected and to the proceedings then accustomed The intent of the promise argueth a greater latitude then is competible to that particular case of conviction I might now charge the multitude of Incerpreters both ancient and modern but it is done already by others It is most probable that the Synedrion of Elders was called the Congregation because there was wont to be an assembly of people present in the place and at the time of Judicature we call the Presbyterie the representative church upon another consideration A second general answer may be this the church is sometimes destitute of Elders and then a Church properly so taken is to be repaired unto immediatly And our Saviour may lay down the rule so as that it may serve for all times and all conditions of the Church Object The Apostle bids the whole church of Corinth to excommunicate the incestuous person and also all the Thessalonians to mark a brother that walketh disorderly and to withdraw from him 1 Cor. 5. Answ 1. Women have no judicial power though the Apostle writes to all therefore other members may not have judicial power though the Apostle writes to all Such speeches must be interpreted quoad materiam subjectam And if women notwithstanding this place of the Apostle must be denied judicial and co-ordinate authority or power or consent because other texts do so require why should not other common members also not withstanding this place of the Apostle be denied the like authority power or consent if other texts do require it If there be any authority in Councels and Synods then the consent of the major part of members shall not be necessary in many great acts which concern all because it is impossible for all churches to convene in their particular persons The Apostle wrote to the elders as well as to the members Rom. 12 8. 1 Peter 5.1 1 Corinthians 1.11 and therefore it is to be supposed that the elders were especially if not wholy respecter by the Apostle in such instructions and commandements 1 Corinthians 14. All are exhorted to see that all things be done decently and in order but this is especially if not onely in point of immediate execution the elders care and office Elders are not onely the members orators or such as we call moderators and prolocutors to govern the actions and not the persons of the assembly Morellius his phantasme as one calleth it who writes strongly for the power of members hath been generally condemned especially by French churches in their Synods Though common members were not equal agents with the elders in excommunications and yet the Apostle doth not here undertake to declare in what order they should concurr 2. The church of Corinth was now to obey the Apostles sentence and did but put the Apostles sentence with due and effectual solemnities in execution The spirit of the Apostle doth denote his Apostolical spirit both of direction and correction To direct with judicial authority is to command with coactive power The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argueth more then a doctrinal determination What spirit should be present at the instant of excommunication but his spirit of Apostolical inspection or authority Spirit here is to be interpreted quoad materiam subjectam truth is the Church of Corinth according to the original is not made the nominative case to the act of delivering up to Sathan only it is required that it be done when the church is gathered together The Apostle then did excommunicate virtually and praeceptivè Cartw. reply p. 67. the church of Corinth obedientialiter Mr. Cartwright and others do consent to this assertion 3. It is apparent that the Apostles were wont to write so much to the whole church because the common members had special need to be instructed and incited to the performance of their duty and in particular to the submitting of themselves to their elders 4. We grant that the common members have something to do in many church acts and especially in excommunications they are to put the sentence of the elders in execution in declining from the parties censured What the Apostle attributes unto the whole church any where is abundantly exhausted and satisfied in the Churches doing of execution Moses applieth the phrase of casting out or putting away the evil one to the peoples doing of execution Deut. 17.7 See Ainsworth on the place Moses frequently applies the act of judging killing c. to all Israel though they did what they did chiefly by their Magistrates Deut. 13.5.9 c. We do farther grant that the common members have a sudordinate power of judgement though not a co-ordinate power A brother is under a power judicial of the body of members but the body of members are under the judicial power of the elders themselves 1 Thes 5.12 Heb. 13.17 The Saints are brought in as judging the world 1 Cor. 6.3 and they have a judicial power over the sinful world but it is subordinate and they must judge dependently under Christ The woman is brought in prophesying and praying in the Congregation but she must prophesie and pray in the church by no power formally but onely by participation Joshua giveth the sentence against Achan and all Israel stoneth him with stones and burneth him with fire thus all Israel must stone and burn the Achans of the Church with the judgements of God denounced against them in Gods fiery law by the ministery The Priests must blesse and curse at the entrance into Canaan and all Israel are to say Amen Deut. 27.14 The living creatures Ezek. 1. and Rev. 4. are to cry holy holy holy and the Elders fall down and worship and say Amen The Saints shall judge the world under Christ and yet have not cause to expect so much as a consultative power together with Christ All in Israel were to observe a due distance by measure from the Priests and
Levites in their passage over Jordan Joshua 3.4 Object The Church is the Spouse or the Bride Answ She is not yet married onely espoused or betrothed and therefore may not have the keyes in possession 2. She is yet under age unfit for government 3. She is but figuratively a Spouse and being constituted of so many persons unmeet to govern in point of ordinary execution 4. The Church of Israel was a spouse socia domus as well as the Christian Church and yet subjected to the Priests 5. The Spouse is kept under Magistracy and why not under the ministry Why not under both together Edicunt reges indicit festa sacerdos Object All the Saints are kings Answ In some common respects but not in respect of special office They are kings in respect of Church power or Church government fundamentally and essentially yet I do not find that the Scripture in the attribution of this title unto Christians hath respect to the power which visible Christians have over one another in special whereby they judge those that are within but in respect of that power whereby they reigne over themselves and over the world Rev. 11. All Saints are called Kings in respect of Christian power as mystical members not in respect of Ecclesiastick power 2. They were kings under the Law and yet subject to the Priests and Levites 3. They are priests as well as kings yet they are not Priests in respect of Ecclesiastick power according to the Scripture phrase They may not ordinarily preach and administer the seals by turn or every man in his course 4. They may be kings in respect of a Christian power mystically and yet be no more exempted from ministerial authority then from Magistratical authority They are not kings litterally and properly but figuratively or mystically Object Elders are ministers stewards servants of the Church Answ Respectively finaliter objective not absolutely or properly 2. They are fathers as well as stewards the stewards of Christ in propriety 3. If they are servants in propriety then they must not govern over the Church or with the Church but obey the Church 4. The Apostles were servants as well as ordinary elders yet they governed without the concurrence of the Church in way of consent The Church is the object of the elders ministry in pâ—râ— but in this respect Angela and Magistrates are also servants to the Church Elders are not servants of the Church in propriety in way of subjection they are actually over the Church the governors of the Church the servants of Christ the whole Church is subject Object Elders must not have Lordlike power to excommunicate the whole Church Answ Lordlike power is not denominated from its extent in respect of the object of their administrations the Apostle had an extensive power over all Churches and yet not Lordlike power Lordlike power consisteth in Magistratical commands laws and mediums of punishment and in an imperious execution of power If the authoritas be in magistrates in respect of ordinary execution he may punish the whole Common-wealth one by one nay altogether de jure in point of ordinary execution in case justice requireth it If the Church may excommunicate Elders and yet have no Lordlike power then Elders may excommunicate the Church without a Lordlike power Object The whole Church cannot be excommunicated because excommunication is a casting out of the Church Answ Excommunication is essentially casting out of Church estate 2. A particular Church may be cast out of the universal Church Junius and all seem to deny an unity integral or visible in the universal Church yet they generally allow of a judicial power in Synods and Councells and how is that possible unlesse there be an universal visible Church But I am not to urge this point at present Object Elders are hereby made inexcommunicable Answ It is more sutable that Elders that Governors should be exempted from excommunication in point of ordinary execution then those which are governed 2. The major part of a particular Church is made inexcommunicable wholy if particular Churches are neither subordinate to their Elders nor to Synods and Councells 3. We suppose that Elders of particular Churches are subordinate to Synods and Councels and that the majesty resideth principally in the Church universal We suppose that Elders are subordinate to their particular Churches in respect of a defensive power in the way of excommunicating or withdrawing As Elders are ordained by Elders so it is meet that particular Churches should make use of Elders in the deposing and excommunicating of an Elder 5. We may put a difference between an ordinary and an extraordinary power A magistrate may be subordinate to his people in whom the majesty doth reside in point of extraordinary execution notwithstanding he hath power in point of ordinary execution to inflict capital punishment upon the people Potestas est in Magistratu principe co modo sub quo translata est Suar. de lege humana The practise of the Churches from the beginning of the World doth shew that they have not thought the consent of the body of the Church absolutely necessary Some godly writers have seemed to be in amaze when they have spoken of the consent of the members but what hath been their own practice Those of Reformed Churches for the general which have spoken most fully for the consent of the people have excluded it from being co-ordinate with the sentence of the Elders See the opinion of the Leyden Professors and Peter Martyr upon 1 Cor. 5. Beza in his Commentary upon the same chapter Res in Presbyteriâ— praejudicata sertur ad populum Cal. Com. 1 Cor. 5 4. requires no more then that excommunication be carryed conscia plebe Yet we must all protest against the magistratical and imperial Soveraignty of Antichrist and all Prelatical Spirits Christ and his Ministers do govern like the sweet fig tree the sat olive and the true vine not like the bramble that hath neither shadow nor good fruit It is observable how the Church is delineated Cant. 7. where the body of members is elegantly distinguished from the Elders as the body from the head 1. Her shoes and feet do denote her heavenly conversation and patience especially in the ambulatory course of the primitive Church for the conversion of the world Ephes 16.15 2. Her thighes navel and belly do represent her as the fountain of procreation and conversion The Church is the mother of all living The graces of the Spirit are the jewel-like joynts of her thighes The Church is the font of the world filled with the liquor of grace and out of her belly flow rivers of living water unto the regeneration or conversion of the world Her belly is compared to heaps of wheat beset with pleasant lillies to signifie that Christ conveigheth himself to the world as the bread of life by the Church in her womb all the infant converts of the world are nourished unto eternal life
Jerusalem is the mother of us all 3. She is described with breasts to declare how she nurseth her new born babes with the milk of the Word But how and by whom doth the Church conceive bring forth and breed up her children Her head is indued with variety of gifts for teaching discerning and governing that is the seat of wisdom and government the body is the region of subjection To conclude the key of authority is in God the key of excellency is in Christ the key of ministry is in the Church fundamentally in the Presbyterie for execution A primo omnia per ordinem omnia ad finem omnis perfectio rerum omnium quies ordo est perfectionis sola inevitabilis via Isaacus a Telia I understand by the keys in the Text the official or stewardlike power of administring the word and prayer the seals and censures in the Church Election is an act of essential authority directly and primarily of derived authority secondarily and consequenter In case the Presbyterie doth censure the Church by vertue of derived authority and the Church the Presbyterie by vertue of essential authority other Churches must judge which cause is just by the rule of Christ in the Word Presbyters are not subject to the common members in censures of superiority In Israel the Elders or magistrates were primitively elected by a Democratical power and yet were not subject to a Democratical power being once elected A power in the people to set up and depose their Magistrates in way of authority constituteth a Democracy The fraternity hath a defensive power to non-communicate with their Elders or power of a defensive excommunication with reference to their Elders One Church hath a co-ordinate power of defence Jus est vel rectorium vel aequatorium in relation to another Church not offensive power In an Aristocracy or Monarchy the people have a defensive power to repel injury not an offensive power The Elders of the Church have power of order to act in all Churches upon the intreaty or consent either of Elders or the Churches themselves 1. Pro. 3. It is natural to all bodies to act for their mutual edification 2. The seals and such like administrations have a common relation to admit members to dispence censures hath a particular relation to a particular Church but the word and seals have a common and general relation to all Churches equally 3. There is a sacred-aptitude though no indeleble Character imprinted on Elders else they are not accomodated to administer holy things especially such things as are holy by institution This ministerial aptitude or fitnesse hath relation to holy things in all Churches there is nothing wanting to execution but orderly permission 4. The ground of dividing the Church into particular Churches doth warrant this power We are many Temples or Churches for edification sake If there had been many Temples in Judea what could have hindred the Priests from ministring as occasion required in any of them 5. We allow communion of Members why not of Ministers As Ministers depend on their particular Church for Authority to dispense holy things so Members depend on their particular Church for Authority to partake of holy things As it is a priviledge to partake so it is grounded upon Authority a Member may challenge communion And it is a priviledge also to dispense holy things though dependent on Authority 6. The Churches do mutually allow and ratifie one anothers acts One Church admitteth Members for all Churches and one Church electeth Officers for all Churches one gate of Jerusalem admitteth into the whole City Rev. 21. One Elder hath a general relation to the universal Church as well as a special relation to his particular Church To say no more it is sufficient that such a power of Elders tendeth to the edification of the Churches while nothing can be produced in oppositum The Apostle doth implicitely command us to do all things which are for edification confideratis considerandus when he commandeth us to do all things in such a maner as may be for edification 1 Cor. 14. What hath been said for the Unity of the Church doth shew that there is no ataxis or disorder in this communion of Elders There was no question in Primitive days concerning the power of Eldere in respect of Ordination Administration of the Seals and Preaching of the Word in all Churches It is commonly known that Anicatus permitted Polycarpus to administer the Sacrament in his Church See Magdebar Centariatores Concerning the Power of Synods and Councels or Churches Assembled CHurches have no power to invent Instituted mediums of Worship Pro. 1. or to make Laws concerning means of Worship which are not natural or to Institute mediums of Worship which are not contained in the first Commandment A Papist asked a Protestant What if our holy Mother the Church determine it The Protestant answered the Papist What if our heavenly Father determine otherwise 1. To make any thing holy for signification or operation which God hath not or more holy then God hath made it by Nature or Institution is so far Idolatrous or Superstitious and is Imagery forbid in the second Commandment 2. The Prophets and Apostles were charged to teach only what God had commanded and they professed they could do no more Deut. 4. Matth. 28. 3. Exod. 30. 1 Cor. 14.37 The Lord Christ condemned and opposed the Traditions of men both by Practise and Doctrine Matth. 15. 4. Our Saviour hath taken upon himself to Institute all holy Times Offices and Ordinances He is sufficiently wise and faithful we derogate from him in adding to his Institution 5. Kings themselves who are most independent and absolute have been corrected by God for taking upon them such a power 1 Chron. 13. 6. Circumstances which are natural means of Worship may be superstitiously abused by excess in using of them even remote means of Worship Quatenûs non expedit non licet as Canonical hours c. So far as any thing is excessively used in Gods Worship it grows unnatural and becomes an Image of mans invention We are to avoid appearances of Superstition as well as of other sins whether they are appearances in the opinion of men or in the nature of the things themselves in respect of their neer Neighborhood unto that which is evil Appearances of Superstition may be opposite to goodness when they are not contrary to truth Excessive use of remote circumstances in Worship whispers unto the weak that they are substantial means of Worship Invented means of Worship are unsuitable unto the nature of God who is a Spirit a Spirit hath no shadows to Christ who is not hid now in the vail of legal Ordinances to the great light of the Gospel the Word and the Church the shadows are longest when the Sun is lowest John 4. Phil. 3.3 we are called to Worship God in the Spirit It is a patching of that vail which
in the Common-wealth which are not Disciplinable in the Church In dubious and disputable things Churches must hold Unity without an Uniformity 1. It is a Lording over one anothers Faith to exact a Conformity and Uniformity in such cases 2. The Churches must yield and condiscend sometimes to one another even in their conformity of practise Rom. 14. 3. The Apostles had extraordinary power sutable to their extraordinary spirit and yet they did not send forth their Decrees as Magistratical Injunctions Acts 15. this is the close of their Epistle to the Church of Antioch from which if you keep your selves you shall do well verse 29. Popish Canons are unsuitable to Ministerial power and also to the standing Laws of Christ Paul exhorts Philemon when he might have commanded him Judicium Conciliorum est judicium suasionis non coactionis in comparison of Magistratical Iudicature The Church hath both a consultative and a definitive authority yet neither Magistrates nor Ministers have authority absolutely and therefore cannot obligare conscientiam absolutely Those that carry the Ensigns of Magistratical Soveraignty and Majesty may write volumus jubemus yet they are not independent soluti legibus Dei Ancient Councels were wont to shew ex quibus fontibus fundamentis they framed their Decrees Sed Tridentini Areopagitae as Chemnitius speaketh nuda tantum decreta sine rationibus praetoria authoritate orbi Christiano promulgarunt Pietro Soare Polano sets down the reason people are apt to wrastle with the reason of a Law when they dare not oppose the Law it self The Scripture is our regula regulans the definitions of Councels are but a regula regulata I do not speak for a toleration of such as to us are Saints in opposition to admonition and all censures but only in opposition to the greater or greatest Excommunication Neither do I speak of a Toleration in the State but in the Church Some things are censurable which are not deserving Excommunication Persons may not be Excommunicable in the Church when they may be exterminated by the State Schisms and Heresies are intolerable in the Church and Common-wealth because the one and the other is inconsistent with the being of the Church Scandals must be rebuked Tit. 1.13 some sharply Powers are Ordained of God for to remove Scandals especially such as are most destructive only provided that charity doth moderate in Church Discipline Ministerial power speaks as from the Mercy-feat Synods and Councels have power of Iurisdiction Pro. 3. to declare and apply both implicite and explicite Laws of Christ in a Brotherly maner In Synodo est eminentia apex authoritatis Leid prof de Concilis Fathers Modern Divines Calvin and his Successors all do generally or for the most part consent to this Proposition though the opposition of the extreme opinion of Papal power hath occasioned some to speak too diminitively of Synods and Councels Cypr. l. 3. Ep. 81. Beza Ep. 68. p. 290. 1. The power of many Churches over one is natural and naturally necessary as the power of many Members over one Member if it be true which hath been proposed that all Churches are but one Church and corporation under the Lord Christ 2. All the Arguments which prove an universal visible Church do prove the power of Councels and Synods That Church which is one in propriety is one in point of government That Church which is properly one in being is properly one in acting frustra datur potentia quae non reducitur in actum Now that of our Saviour Mat. 16. together with other places of Scripture do seem to prove effectually that there is an universal visible Church One may argue it thus That Church which is invested by Christ with visible and catholike Officers that Church is an univerfal visible Church But that Church in Matth. 16. is invested by Christ with visible and catholike Officers Peter is made a stone and builder of that Church as an Apostle Peter is made a Steward of that Church or Kingdom as an Apostle Object That Church is described by a character which is proper to the Mystical Church for our Saviour promiseth that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against that Church Ans The properties of the Mystical Church are frequently attributed to the Visible Church the reason is because the Visible Church is the true Church quo ad nos and because the Visible Church is intlusively the true Church in the sight of God Thus the Members of the Visible Church are termed Saints the called and Elect of God the sealed ones the Heirs of Eternal life this is frequent with the Apostle it is usual also for the Apostles to apply the promises of perseverance and life unto them Thus the Visible Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven the Lambs wise the body and temple of Christ the family and city of God Matth. 13. Rev. 21. Rom. 12. These properties are not attributed to the Visble Church in sensu formali but in sousu identico as the School men speak in another case in respect of us inclusivè the Visible Church is the true Church and the true Church is the Visible Church The Popish Church is a Church Visible quo ad similitudinem non quoad veritatem the true Visible Church is a Church quo ad veritatem externae sanctificaetimis though not in point of internal Sanctification as it is the Visible Church 2. Secondly such attributes do belong to the Visible Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the Visible Church contains the true Church which shall prevail The true Church is both Visible and Invisible 3. That promise of our Saviour doth belong to the Visible Church in part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as it is the Visible Church That promise doth contain an offensive prevalence as well as a defensive the Church shall prevail in subduing the world not only desend it self against the world and this offensive power doth properly appertain to the Church as it is Visible for the most part The gates of Hell do Emphatically describe the prevailing power of the Church in point of conquest because the gates of Hell are the defensive muniments of the Enemy Them the Church besiegeth the World and overcometh thus Israel besieged Ieriche and overcame 3. The great Synedrion of the Jewish Church was the Church Representative of all the twelve Tribes Seventy is the round number of Seventy two and Seventy two Elders contained six of every Tribe The Seventy that first descended into Aegypt the Seventy Disciples of Christ the former the founders of the Iewish Church the other the founders of the Christian Church the Seventy Bells upon Aarons coat the Seventy Palm trees all these seem to be correspond entry Representative All cases that could not be determined in the lesser Synedrions types of particular Churches were to be brought to the great Synedrion and the Judge thereof The Judge together with the high Priest doth signifie
Jesus Christ who sitteth in the Assembly of the Elders unto the end of the world Mat. 18. The great Synedrion doth signifie Synods and Councels in respect of the successive state of the Church the great Presbytery of the Apostles in respect of the first and extraordinary state of the Church Object The Synagogues and Synedrions in common cities had not compleat power within themselves as congregations in the christian Church Ans 1. Types and similies may not be quadrate in all particulars 2. They had compleat power in respect of parts though not in respect of degrees a divided power though not an independent power The Synagogues had power of Excommunication John 9. they had a compleat power in suo genere in respect of all Ordinances of Iurisdiction Object It is the perfection of a congregation to be independent Ans It is better to be dependent then independent while we are impotent A particular congregation needs the protection of other congregations Independency in point of Iurisdiction upon earth is but Temporal and it hindreth Humility and Love in particular Churches which are perfections eternal It is no perfection to be so independent as to become insolent and impotent Object Councels and Synods may have a preceptive power or a consultative power and yet not power of Iurisdiction Ans Pastors are Rulers as well as Prophets and therefore if there be granted a consultative or Doctrinal power vi officii to Synods and Councels it must be also granted for the same reason that there is a corrective power in Synods and Councels Authority destitute of a corrective power in particular Presbyteries is not adequate to its end Gods Ordinance in Israel both in Church and State invested such as were Governors with corrective power as well as with preceptive power It is most strange to see Supreme Authority such as is the Authority of the whole Church naked in point of corrective power Object This patern of the Iewish Church speaketh for a Classique Presbytery as well as for Synods and Councels Ans 1. The great and standing Presbytery of Jernsalem speaketh directly only for the great Presbytery of Apostles and Elders extaordinary at the first constitution of the christian Church they only were catholike Elders such as were indued with unlimitted power But the frame of policy in Israel put aside that great Sanhedrin or Presbytery of Seventy Elders speaks most effectually for Synods and Councels and it is more evidently natural for a greater part of Members to have power over a lesser in a Democracy and for the greater part of Elders to have power over the lesser in an Aristocracy Classical Presbyteries as they may stand do seem to impeach and diminish the just power of congregational Presbyteries which have allowed them by the Apostolical Ordinance a compleat power in respect of parts of Worship and Jurisdiction a divided power though not an independent power but against a Classical Presbytery modified and qualified by the just rule of Prudence and Scripture I have nothing to oppose Object Excommunication is no more in effect then the Non-communication of Churches Ans Gods Ordinance of Excommunication in particular Churches argueth that the one is more effectual then the other Non-communicatiō is a defensive Excommunication with such as formerly enjoyed communion 2. As a sin against Authority is a greater sin so an evil inflicted by Authority is a greater evil 3. Is it not reasonable that if one Church hath power to Discipline all all should have a more effectual power to Discipline one This must needs be yielded it being presupposed that all Churches are but one universal Church and combination Object A Presbyter is onely a Presbyter over his particular Flock Ans A Presbyter is a Presbyter for lesse ordinary execution and nuitivè over the whole universal Church a Presbyter hath an united power though not a divided power over all Churches One Elder hath not power to act in anothers congregation absolutely because he is but a subordinate Pastor to the Jurisdiction of other congregations in respect of his solitary and divided power An Elder may Preach as a Paster out of his own congregation and yet he must ask leave because he is subordinate to the Jurisdiction of other congregations Elders have not power to act distributivè in all congregations but they have power to act collectivè unitivè and therefore the Elders of two Churches have power to act in and over one Church and one Elder in the name of a Presbytery may act in and over any Church subordinate to that Presbytery though it be not his own proper sphaere In an Aristocracy the greater part of Rulers have a judicial superiority in respect of a lesser part Reformed Churches have generally consented to some fixed form of consociation Genova hath governed by a combination of twenty Parishes is one Presbytery If in this kinde of Government there be a commoderation so that it may not prejudice the speedy current and due power of congregational Presbyteries it is but sutable to the set Synods in ancient time and to the present exigents of the Churches Ve omnia inter so mombra consentiunt quia singula servari totim inter est ita homines singulis parcent quia ad cortum geniti sumus Salve enim esse societas nisi amore custodia partium non potest Seneca Concerning the Power of Magistrates with reference to the Churches of Christ THe acts of Magistracy are not only civil Laws Precepts Punishments Rewards but also spiritual Loves Precepts Prayers Blessings Iustructions Admonitions These spiritual acts do danominate Magistratical power to be spiritual power though not Ecclesiastical Church power is spiritual generically in respect of acts which are spiritualin common but by way of specialty it is spiritual as it is Ecclesiastical Magistratical power is both civil and spiritual yet not Ecclesiastical or civil as it is opposed to Ecclesiastical power not as opposed to Spiritual 5. The next ends of Magistratical acts are Spiritual and acts are distinguished by their ends or immediate objects The Spiritual good of men is both intended and acquired in Magistratical acts as primarily as the Temporal good of men A Magistrate doth Instruct Pray c. to the end he might confer some Spiritual good and the act it self doth as naturally and immediatly produce such an effect as if it were the act of an Ecclesiastical person and such an act is supposed to be the act of a Magistrate as he is a Magistrate not only as he is a Christian And if the Magistrate be prophane and should not intend any Spiritual good as it was said of one that he was bonns Rox but malus homo it is sufficient that the act it self doth 2. The spiritual good of men and the glory of God are primary ends of the coustitution of Magistracy in nature A Throne of Magistracy is crected and ought to be in the intention of men as directly for Religion as