Titus 15. which is in Scripture-language every town or viilage the town of Bethlehem Iohn 7.42 being little Mich. 5.2 yet called the City of David Luke 2.4 the towns of Iair threescore Cities Ioshua 13 3â— and Iudges 10.4 thirty Cities in the margent villages now if our Antagonists did but observe those things they would be content with those Churches which were so confin'd and so allotted to them and their Predecessours yea even by the Apostles themselves as all those Elders were which they placed in every Church The next mother Church was that at Antioch so called Acts 11.26 having some Apostles and many extraordinary prophets in it Acts 13.1 which came from Ierusalem Acts 11.27 and there they also tarried and many Christians were converted yea they were first called Christians at Autioch v. 16. Now this Church did as that at Ierusalem branch it self out into the Churches of Syria and Cilicia Acts 15.23.41 and those Churches were all governed by those Ministers at Antioch who came together as all concerned in the same businesse when seducers would have broached errors amongst them Acts 15.1 2. neither did they rest there in regard they could not there determin it but appealed to the Synod at Ierusalem made up of fixed Officers confined to their particular congregations yet those Elders with the Apostles came together about that question Acts 15.6 and so being determined by them all those Churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily not onely of Christians but of Churches Acts 16.5 and all as branches of that Church at Antioch depending still upon it and having recourse to it upon all weighty occasions And the next example are those Churches of Asia every Church there branching it self out into Churches and every Church there containing Churches was govern'd by one common Presbytery for the Angel of every Church is blamed for all things amiss in all those Churches contained in it now this Angel must either be an Arch-Bishop over all those Churches contained in it or else a Presbytery charged with those Churches but it was not an Arch-Bishop for saith Christ to his Ministers Kings of the Earth exercise Lordship over their brethren but it shall not be so among you Luk 22.25 26. Again all the Elders in Ephesus are charged to watch and feed that Flock conteining many Churches Acts 20.21 and they all as branches of that one Church so govern'd And thus it was of old the Lord brought a Vine out of Egypt called the Church in the Wildernesse Acts 7.38 This Vine the Lord planted in Canaan and it spred out her boughs to the Sea and her branches to the River and filled the Land Psal 80. And so that Congregation mentioned Psal 74.2 brancht it self out into Congregations ver 4. having Synagogues in every City where the Law of Moses was read every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 yea Christ and his Apostles did frequently preach in their Synagogues Luke 4.16 Acts 17.1 2. and also blame those that forsake this Assembling as the manner of some was Heb. 10.25 this is the true descent and dependency of Presbyterian Churches Obj. But your Churches are discended from Antichrist for Austin the Monk being sent into England by the Pope brought hither your religion and from him your Ministers had their ordination and shall be destroyed together Answ The Christian Religion came from Christ and not from Antichrist and also our Ministers ordination for Christ ordained 12. and sent them out to preach Mark 3.14 and they had power from him to ordain Elders in every Church Acts. 14.23 and they left the same power with other Ministers to ordain Elders in every City Titus 15. and thus they did successively to this day and although this Ordinance passed under Antichrist who sits in the Temple of God and received some defilement yet not so as to nullifie it but if this Monk or Popish Bishop shall renounce popery and all their usurpation and engagements to that strumpet and preach the word of God truly and to one flock I think they may be accounted still lawful Minsters and need no other ordination to admit them into the Ministry nor their people no other re-baptizing to admit them into our Church but secondly suppose the Pope and that Monk to be enemies to the true Church yet Christ sometimes makes use of his enemies to do service for his Church as the King of Assiria did though he thought not so Isa 10.7 saith Ioseph you thought evill but God meant it to good to save much people alive Gen. 50.20 The wrath of man shal praise him and the remainder he will restrain Psa 76.10 by the persecution at Ierusalem the Gospell was spred into all Nations Acts 11.19 yea the Devil himself by the treason of Iudas did accidentally forward our redemption by Christ who rules in the middest of his enemies Psal 110 2. Balaams prophesie nor the prophesie of Caiphes the High Priest must not be despised because they came from them nor what is of Christ in the hand of a Monk but 3dly I shall prove that the Christian Faith was in Britain before either Antichrist was in being or Austin the Monk came hither for saith Mr. Fox in his Epistle to the universall Church prefixed before his first volume to his Acts and Monuments the heathen Emperours of Rome sought to destroy the Church of Christ and their Persecution continued the space of 300 yeares Now mark in all this time God raised up in this Realm of Britain divers worthy Preachers and lest we should doubt the truth of it he sets down some of their names as Elnanus Medvinus Mettivianus Amphibolus Albaâ—us Aaron Iulius and others in which time the Doctrine of faith without mens traditions was sincerely preached even before the Man of sinne was revealed yea before the Empire which letted was taken away 2. Thes 2 3. to 9. and after their death and Martyrdome the Church having peace increased in Britain and was governed by Christian doctrine a long season by Fistidius Mujanus Parrynus Bcchiaâ—us Dubxinus Congellus Kentigernus Helmodus David Daniel Samoson Ellnadogus Asaphus Gildus Hentanus Ellbodus Dinathus Samuel Novius and many more a long season although the Civil Governors were carelesse as Gildas sharply lays to their charge and so at length were subdued by the Saxons now all this while about the space of 400 years Religion remain'd in Britain uncorrupt and the word of Christ was truly preached till about the comming of Austin and his Companions from Rome or as Cambden saith from the Pope who was not then in being nor him that leteth taken away for the Bishop of Rome calls King Lucius the Prince of Bishops and Mr. Fox page 11. saith the word Pope signifying Father was frequently given to all Bishops as to Augustine Hierome Epiphanius Athanasius and Cyprian the Bishop of Carthage yea to mean Bishops for all were of equall authority till the Councell of Nice held in the Year 340. where they
once a moneth and oftner if any occasion beâ— this we call the Classicall Eldership And lastly in case any matter shall not here be decided they may appeal to the Provinciall or Nationall Synods and there it shall be determined But how will it appear that there is any such Churches so govern'd by Synods Ans For such names it is not materiall we contend not about names but the thing it selfe we shall find in Scripture First for Provinciall churches we find that every Church in Asia was made up of severall Churches in the second and third Chapters of the Revelations Now such a Church which comprehended many Churches in it could not be one single Congregation made up of one Pastor and his people neither could these be Nationall Churches because at Ephesus which was a City Acts 18 28.19 and at Thyatira a City Acts 16.14 the like may be said of Corinth there was many Congregations 1 Cor. 1.12.3.4 and all made up the Church at Corinth 1 Cor. 1.2 also Corinth was a City Acts 18.8 10. these were provinciall Churches Secondly in Jerusalem were more Christians than could congregate together three thousand were added to that Church at one time Acts 2.41 47. and five thousand at another Acts 4.4 so that there were many thâ—â—and Believers in Ierusalem Acts 21.20 yea it was said that all Ierusalem were baptized of Iohn in Iordan 3.5 6 and yet they are called the Church at Ierusalem Acts 11.21 which could be no other but a Provinciall Church Thirdly there was in Ierusalem many Ministers theer was the 12 Apostles and the 70 and others then what Church would this be having above a hundred Ministers in it this could not be a single Congregation neither could it be a Nationall Church because at Ierusalem the like may be said of the Church at Antioch there was many Prophets and some Apostles Acts 11.26 27. and yet the Church at Antioch Acts 13.4 Fourthly all that multitude of Christians yea I may say all those Churches in Ierusalem for they had Elders chosen which are fixed Officers placed in every single Congregation and there confin'd see Acts 14.23 yet all these Churches were govern'd by one common Presbytery which some times sate in Solomons porch Acts 5.12 13. and sometimes in other places for Paul came to Ierusalem and went in where the Elders were present Acts 21.18 and so was every Church in Asia containing Churches governed and they blamed for every thing that was amisse in any of those Churches comprehended in that Church under that Government Now a Nationall Church is that when God shall deal with any Nation as he did with the nation of the Iews to make them his people in Covenant and give his Statutes Sabbaths and Sacraments as he did to them Nehe. 9.13 14 15. Psal 147.19 20. then that is a Nationall Church as well as that of the Iews but God hath given England and Scotland the Book of the Covenant and Ministers after his own heart to shew us the meaning of it And he hath given the Sabbath day appointed for that end and the Sacraments whereby we have seal'd that Covenant and also the Lord hath sealed many of us with his spirit therefore our Church is a nationall Church 2. all our Congregations containing the whole Nation are fastened and semented together as Members of one body and as branches of one Vine by Classes and Synods as all the Congregations in Israel made one Congregation Psa 74.2 4. therefore it is a Nationall Church for it is not confin'd to a City or Province or one Assembly under one Shepherd but as that Vine brought out of Aegypt and planted in Canaan taking deep root spred her boughs to the Sea and her branches to the river and so filled the land Psal 80. and so we as well as they became a nationall Church 3. It is foretold that nations shall come into the Christian Church Isa 2.2.61.1 to 11.66.18 and this we see fulfilled for all the whole Nation are come in and have sealed the covenant of grace by Baptisme and all professe our selves members of this Church and there is as many living members in this Church as in that nationall Church of the Iewes 4. The Lord hath not as yet given us a Bill of Divorcement but owns us still for his Church continuing his Ministers and his Ordinances with us and his blessing upon them both to convert those that are not converted and to strengthen those that are We have seen thy goings O God in the Sanctuary Psa 68.24 Lastly these Churches have and do still own this title the Church of England and the Church of Scotland and all Christian Churches do so approve of our Church therefore it is a Nationall Church And the universall Church I prove thus first all the Churches of Christ have one foundation upon this rock will I build my Church Mat. 16.18 and yet the builders are sent into all Nations to build it Mat. 28.19 and that upon this foundation for other foundation can no man lay than what is laid which is Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.4 which shews that the Churches in all nations make up but this one Church 2. Paul persecuted the Christians at Ierusalem and at Damacus and in other strange Cities Acts 26.10.11 yet all these hee calls the Church of God Gal. 1.13 1 Cor. 15.9 which shews that the Church is universall 3. Iewes and Gentiles which comprehend all Nations make but one Church for saith Paul give no offence to Iewes nor Gentiles nor to the Church of God 1 Cor. 10.32 this cannot be meant a third sort of people because there was no more and this Church was made up of both because both are mentioned therefore it is universall 4. All the Churches of Christ make but one Church for saith Paul the Churches of Christ salute you yea the whole Church saluteth you Rom. 16.10.23 5. All Ministers are placed in one Church 1 Cor. 12.28 which shews it to be universall 6. All Churches have but one King and governed by one Law Iomes 4.12 therefore universall 7. All Churches are called one body one dove one Queen Ephes 44. 1 Cor. 12.12 Cant. 6.8 Lastly the doore of the Church is as wide as the Christian world for he that is admitted into one Church by Baptisme is admitted into all and he that is cut off as Iulian was is cut off from all Churches therefore it is univerfall But how do you prove the Appeals of Churches and of persons in the Church Ans First I will shew the appeals of persons in the church for a private trespasse If thy brother shall trespasse against thee saith Christ go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother But 2. if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be estabished but 3. If he neglect to hear them tell
made four Patriarks or Metropolitans the Bishop of Rome the Bishop of Alexandria the Bishop of Antioch the Bishop of Ierusalem and after that the Bishop of Constantinople instead of the Bishop of Antioch yet none of them universall till Pope Silvester claim'd this title in the year 670. and after him Hildebrand Gregory the seventh added the Temporall power caused the Sword to be carried before him see page 2. all which might suffice to shew that Britain had not received the Christian faith from either Pope or Monke and yet the true Christian faith for we have all the properties of a true Church we have the word of God truely taught and the Sacraments truly administred and prayer put up in the name of Iesus Christ by those that are lawfully called into the Ministery and our people yeelding true obedience to those truths taught and prayd for now although for sin God may remove our Candlestick yet the gates of Hell shall never prevaile to destroy such a Church Mat. 16.18 for God will have glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all ages world without end Eohe 3.21 and Christ will be with his Ministery to the end of the world Mat 28.20 he holds the Stars in his Right hand Rev. 1.16 and what is done to them hee will take as done to himselfe and his Ordinances shall continue for Christ will be with his Ministers teaching and baptizing to the worlds end and the Lords supper shall shew forth the death of Christ till his coming again 1. Cor. 11.26 and both Ministry and Ordinances are placed in the Church for the perfecting of the Saints til they come to a complete man in the knowledg of the Son of God Eph. 4.12.13 which is not attain'd in this world for here we know but in part but then shall we know even as we are knnown 1 Co. 13.12 therefore our Churches are from Iesus Christ and not from Antichrist neither shall they be destroyed Object But since your first receiving the Christian saith England hath put themselves under the yoke of Antichrist for all Christian Kings had given their power to the Beast Rev. 17 12.17 Ans It is true that all these Kings gave their State-power to the Beast but the Churches power was not theirs to give neither did the Church give their power to the Beast for she had alwayes some to witnesse against Antichrist all the time of this Raign Rev. 11.3 yea the Ordinance of Baptisme and Ordination of Ministers the one to solemnize the admittance into the Church and the other into the Ministery was never taken out of the Christian Church no not out of Rrme it self for Antichrist sits in the Temple of God 2. Thes 2.4 so then it is not the want of these Ordinances but the abuse of them that makes Rome Antichrist neither doth the having of these Ordinances make Rome a true Church for Samaria had Circumcision and Rome hath Baptisme yet Samaria was not the Iewish Church no more is Apostate Rome the Christian Church for although their ministers are admitted into the ministry by Ordination and the people into the Christian Church by Baptisme yet they will neither teach the Covenant of grace nor the people yeeld obedience to it the which if they did I suppose their Ministers need no other Ordination into the Ministry nor the people no other Baptisme to admit them into the Christian Church Obj. But you give such names to the materiall places of publique worship as properly belongs to Gods People as the Church the house of God and the Temple which is superstition Ans It is true that Gods people are called the Church but it is as true that the place appointed or set apart for the Worship of God is called the Church for saith Paul When you come together in the Church or have you not houses to eat and drink in or despise yee the Church of God 1. Cor. 11.19.21 .. Secondly this place of publike worship in the Kingdom of Grace is a type of that place of eternall worship called the Church of the first-born Heb. 12.23 Therefore the type may be called the Church as well as the Antitype and Gods people are as lively stones built up into a spirituall house 1. Pet. 2.5 which house are wee Heb. 3.6 but it is as true that the place of Gods worship is called the house of God for saith David they take the houses of God in possession Psa 83.12 Is it time to dwell in your sealed houses and my house lye wast Hag. 1.4 My house saith Christ shall be called a house of Prayer Mat. 21.3 take these things hence and make not my Fathers house a house of Merchandize Iohn 2.16 and when this earthly house of Gods Worship is dissolved we shall have an house not made with hands 1. Cor. 5.1 And Gods people being together in the worship of God grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord Ephe. 2.21 but it is as true that the peace of Gods worship is called the Temple for Peter and Iohn went into the Temple at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour Acts 3 1. The messenger of the Covenant shall come into his Temple Mal. 3.1 This was fulfilled when Christ disputed in the Temple Luke 2.46 and when he drave out the buyers and sellers Iohn 2.15 And when he preached in the Temple Luke 19.47 Iohn 18.20 Again them of all Religions do highly esteem of the place set apart for the Worship of their Gods giving them the like honourable names as Dagons house the house of Baal and the Temple of Diana Acts 19.27 the Idoll Temple and also Churches for saith the town Clerk these men are no robters of Churches nor yet blasphemers of your Gods Acts 19.37 then why should not we say with David Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thy Honour dwelleth Psal 26.8 Again what is set apart for holy uses is called holy as holy Sabbath Nehe 9.14 holy Law Rom. 7.12 holy place in Heaven Psal 24.3 and holy place on Earth Exodus 28.43 Mas. 24.15 and holy Temple Ionah 2.4 Yea where God did but manifest his presence holy ground Exo. 3.15 the Tabernacles altars and all the Vessels holy Exod. 40.4.10 and all that administer them and their garments holy Exod. 29.21 and their offerings holy the Paschall Lamb and the Lambe of Consecration holy Exod. 29.34 and the people holy Deut. 7.6 and all these not by infusing the grace of holinesse but onely set apart for holy uses so then every man may not administer those holy things but onely such as are set apart to doe it and secondly we ought to preserve that holinesse of separation of all things so set apart for holy uses Thirdly and this may shew us the horrible sinne of those that cast aspersions either upon the Ministry the Sabbath the Ordinances or place of Gods Worship and chiefly in those that make it a place of gaming and