effect the very same speach so Mr. Cartwright * Repl. to Whitg l. 1. p. 25. 26. and B. Bilson * Perpet Gouvernm pag. 3. Eccl. Polit. l. 4. p. 148. likewise Hooker gives a reason for it namely because the first state of things was best c. and therefore it must needs follow that customes Lawes and Ordinances devâ—sed since are not so good for the Church of Christ but the best way is to cut off later inventions and to reduce things unto the ancient state wherein at the first they were And this agrees with Tertullians * Cont. Mar. l. 4. c. 5. saying of old That is truest which is first that is first which is from the beginning that is from the beginning which is from the Apostles ARGVMENT II. If Christ in Mat. 18.17 where hee saith Tell the Church doth meane a particular Congregation Then hath every particular Congregation an intyre power in and of it self to exercise Ecclesiasticall gouvernment and all other Gods spirituall ordinances But the first is true Therefore the second The proposition is cleare and certain maintained by the most judicious Divines viz. Vrsinus a Explica p. 2. p. 534. Zwinglius b Explan Act. 8. D. Andrewes c Tort. tort pag. 42. Chemnitius d In Mat. 18.17 Aretius e Idem Pelargius f Idem Hunnius g Idem Vatablus h Idem Munster i Idem Beza k De Eccl. l. 1. ca. 13. Erasmus l Paraph. in Mat. 18. D. Whitaker m De Rom. Pont. cont 4. Q 1. p 86 Cartwrith n Confut. Rhem. in Mat. 18. D. Fulke o Idem Parker p Polit. Eccl. l. 3. p. 79. and others The Assumption is prooved thus That Church which Christ intendeth in Mat. 18. hath absolute power in and of it selfe to performe all Gods ordinances but Christ intendeth in Mat. 18. a particular Congregation Therefore everie particular Congregation hath absolute power in and of it self to performe all Gods Ordinances Moreover let it be observed that this Church in Mat. 18. is given as a plat-forme or example unto all Churches to walke by As Moyses was to make the Arke in every respect proportionable unto the patterne which hee saw in the Mount even so c. ARGVMENT III. Whatsoever was commaunded to the 7 Churches to be practised by each of them apart in and for themselves that no Church of God must now omit But Ecclesiasticall gouvernment was commaunded to the 7 Churches to be practised by each of them apart in and for themselves Therefore no Churches of God must omit the practise of Ecclesiasticall gouvernment apart in and for themselves The proposition cannot be doubted off For as Chytraeus a In Rev. c. 1. p. 29. 54. Artopeus b In cap. 1. p. 11. Bullinger c In Rev. 2. Hom. 8. Brightman d In Rev. 1.2 3. ch and others write All Churches from these ought to learne what gouvernment to exercise what doctrines to teach what persons to excommunicate who to receive and to comfort and the like The assumption is prooved clearely in chap. 2. ver 2.14.20 c. Moreover Mr. Perkins * Expos upon ch 2. v. 20. ch 3. v. 7. speaking of those Churches sayth God gave to every of them power and authoritie to preach the Word administer the Sacraments represse evill men decerne false Prophets to exclude all obstinate sinners from all spirituall priviledges among them ARGVMENT IV. If the Church of Corinth had power and authoritie within her self to exercise Ecclesiasticall gouvernment Yea and did it I meane the Ministerie and the rest of the Church there Then ought not particular Congregations now to stand under any other Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves But the first is true Therefore the second The first part is unquestionably certain and of this judgement was D. Willet a Cont. 9. Cent. 1. D. Fulke b Answ to the Rhem. 1. Cor. 5.4 Zanehy c In praecep 4. c. 19. p. 688 Bucer d De Regn. Chr. l. 1. c. 9 Piscator e In 1. Cor. 5. Obser 1. D. Andrewes f Tort. tor pag. 42. Pet. Martyr g 1. Cor. 5. Polanus h Synt. Theo. l. 7. c. 19. D. Feild i Of the Church l. 1. c. 5. Paraeus k In 1. Co 5 de Eccom Zwinglius l Epichir de Can. Missae ad Valent comp and others Againe whereas the Papists and Hierarchy doe say much after Mr. Pagets new doctrine that the Church of Corinth had not sole and alone authoritie in it self to exercise Ecclesiasticall gouvernment our writers viz. Mr. Cartwright * Refutat Rhem. 1. Cor. 5.4 Mr. Parker * Pol. Eccl. l. 3. c. 4. p. 1. 7. 18. c. others doe soundly refute them and proove the contrary by many reasons The latter part is prooved before in the Minors of the 1. and 3 arguments ARGVMENT V. Such actions the Church may lawfullie doe wherein no Law of God is broken But there is no Law of God broken when particular Congregations doe in and among themselves exercise all Gods ordinances Therefore they may lawfully doe it The proofe of the proposition doth arise from the definition of sinne which as Augustine a Cont. Fau. l. 22. c. 27. Ambrose b Lib de Paridis c. 8 truely define it is either a deed or word or thought against some Divine Law Lombard c Lib. 2. 35. Aquinas d Th. 12. Qu. 71. and other Schoolemen as they are called agree hereto The assumption is manifested in our first Argument the first part of it ARGVMENT VI. If the Apostle gave commaundement unto the Eldership of Ephesus for the whole administration of all ordinances in that Church Then may the Eldership of every particular Congregation administer among themselves all Gods ordinances But the first is true Therefore the second The Major is prooved two wayes 1. By Scripture Act. 28. vers 17.28 2. By the testimony of the learned Whitaker * Rom. Pont. Cont. 4. Qu. 1. c. 1. p. 12 Cont. 2. Qu. 5. c. 6. pag. 281. 284. The Minor is undeniable For as Mr. Brightman ‡ On the Apoc. ch 12 pag. 505. sayth there was one forme of gouvernment in all Churches namely that that is delivered us in the acts of the Apostles and the rest of their writings There are extant at this present divers Treatises * See Park Pol. Eccl. l. 2 c. 40. p. 324.325 c. Defen of godly Min. agai Bridg. slaund p. 133.134 c. to proove that Christ hath instituted but one onely forme of Church gouvernment common to all Churches ordinary perpetuall and best Thus wee haue prooved the affirmative part of our assertion to wit that every particular Congregation hath power in and for it self immediatelie from Christ to exercise Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment and all other Religious
controversy leaneth upon it I will speake further of it in the next Section There are yet other reasons to proove our Assertion the which I will here lay downe more briefly 1. If every Eldership haue alike and equall power as Hierome a Ep. ad Ena Cyprian b L. de unitâ— Eccles Bucer c De Bâ—gâ— Chr. l. 1. c. 15. and others affirme then may not the Officers of one Congregation seeke by authority to suppresse the acts and decrees concluded in another 2. It is against sence that a Minister should undertake the care of more Churches then one onely who reads in Scriptute of a steward over many families a sheepheard over divers Flockes c. Nature hath ordained sayth Aristotle * Lib. 1. c. 2 one unto one 3. Is it alike thing that the Classicall power should be of Gods approoving and yet hee never mention it in his word This argument the Hierarchy ‡ Iew. Defe Apol. 2. par c. 3. divis 5. use against Popish Offices and the Reformists * D. Laten Syons Plea p. 9. against theirs Now let the discreet Reader judge if it proove not the point in hands as well Here I may not omit Zwinglius * Zwingl Art 8. expl speach speaking of Synods Wee willingly beleeve sayth hee that you are a representative Church for a true Church you are not But I pray you shew us whence you fetch this name Who hath given you this name who hath given you power to make Canons impose things on mens shouldiers grieve their consciences c. And a little after hee sayth Of this representative Church I find nothing in the Holy Scriptures out of mens devises any may faigne what they list wee rest in the Holy Scripture against which thou mayst not attempt any thing if thou be a Christian. 4. Whosoever shall deny our afore-said assertion must of necessity hold two distinct formes of Church gouvernment to be lawfull one where particular Congregations doe in and of themselves exercise all Gods ordinances the other where they stand under another Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves Now to hold this is directly all one as to hold two wayes to heaven distinct and opposite in themselves which is very scandalous in Religion and that which cannot stand with truth 5. Let it be observed that for this reason among others the Learned ‡ D. Whita cont 4. qu. 4 Chamier l. 6. conject 2. say the Pope is Antichrist viz. because hee will haue men to appeale from their owne Churches unto him and to stand unto his sentence and decree And doe not the Classicall Assemblyes and Synods take upon them an authority much like to it in subjecting many Congregations to them requiring appeales to be made to them and that the Iudicatory as Mr. Pagets * In his Letter given into the Consistory phrase is belongeth to them as if their power were above all Churches 6. VVhat more meet and reasonable then that every mans case be there heard and determined where the fault was committed so sayth Cyprian * Cypr. lib. 1 Epist 3. It is not fit that they over whom the Holy Ghost hath made us overseers should goe too and fro Hee speaketh of carying matters away from their owne Church unto others * See pag. 35.36 7. Note the effect if it should be otherwise which is that every particular Congregation must hence necessarily loose her owne proper right in gouvernment and so of a Mistres become a servant in stead of being superiour wilfully vassall and enslave her self which thing is contrary to Gods will revealed in his word * Gal. 5.1 1. Co. 7.23 2. Ti. 1.13 Heb. 4.14 Revel 2.25 8. Seeing the Apostles wheresoever they constituted any Church with doctrine immediately established in it Ecclesiasticall gouvernment ‡ Park Pol. Eccl l. 1 20 for without this as D. Ames * De consc l. 4. c. 24. pag. 214. sayth there could have beene no conbling of the parts and members together It must needs follow that the Primitive Churches were independent bodies and stood not under any other Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves Now how Mr. Paget will be able to proove a change of this gouvernment I doe not yet see especially considering that the Learned as I shewed before * Pag. 72. doe hold that there is but one certaine necessary and perpetuall forme and manner of ordering Churches And this also is the judgement of Calvin a Calv. ad Sad. P. Martyr b In Rom. 3.21 D. Bilson c Perp. Gov. 338. c. yea the Confession of the Churches of France d Harm conf art 29 of the Low Countries e Harm art 30. and Scotland f Treat of the Discipl of that Church in a word to this the Papists g Sander visib Mon. l. 1. c. 6. ascent 9. By the titles given to all particular Congregations it appeares evidently that Ecclesiasticall authority is or at least ought to be in every one of them distinctly wholie intyrely viz. a Kingdome h Mat. 3.2 Family i Eph. 2.19 a Body k 1. Cor. 12.20 a Queene l Psal 45. c. For what more senceles then to say a Kingdome or family standing under another Politicall or Oeconomicall gouvernment out of themselves a body having all parts and members and yet may neither receive in nor put out without anothers leave and consent many such absurdities * See Park Pol. Eccl. 3. p. 23. 321.322 Iun. Eccl. l. 1. c. 4. D. Whitak cont 4. Qu. 1. p. 38. followeth Mr. Pagets lately-devised Tenets 10. The acts of the Apostolique Churches proove directly our assertion For it is without all contradiction that they elected their owne Ministers excommunicated offenders sent messengers and performed all other Church matters among themselves Lastly let it be observed that Mr. Paget in this accordeth with the Papists * Bellar. de Eccl. l. 5. c. 5 and Hierarchy * D. Downa D. Bridges others for they say as hee doth that particular Churches are not independent bodies but stand under another Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves The which thing our writers deny and proove the contrary By this time I suppose the indifferent Reader perceiveth that the Scriptures are every way for us and against Mr. Paget in this controversy betwixt us Now hee should doe well seeing wee dispute about a matter of faith appertaining to life and salvation to rest in them as the onely touching for triall of all truth Notwithstanding considering hee makes so much a doe about the multitude of learned and Godly Ministers being of the same judgement and practise with him Pag. 73. according as Festus knowing Paul to haue appealed unto Caesar did reasonably resolve saying Vnto Caesar shalt thou goe so I am well contented to heare what reverend and judicious Authors doe say herein And if Mr. Paget will stand unto their
Hereticks and wicked persons loosing the penetent the election and ordination of Ministers and the deposition of them againe for just cause Mr. Brightman * On Rev. ch 12. pag. 505. 506. comes Lower downe even unto Constantines time and is of opinion that the primitive puritie of Church Gouvernment was not yet defloured with the dregges of mans invention Neither had Satan brought in Prelaticall pride into the sheep fould of the Lord but the Pastours looked every one to the health of his owne Flocke Hence it appeares that for the space of 200 or 300 yeares after Chrlst * See Mr. Iacob necess Reform pag. 57. c. every visible Church had power to exercise Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment and all other Gods spirituall ordinances the meanes of salvation in and for it self immediately from Christ And this is a thing so certainly true as I thinke Mr. Paget himself will not haue the face to deny it What authoritie then to use anothers * B. Bilson agai Semin p. 221. speach had others after the Apostles death to change the Apostolike Gouvernment But seeing they haue done it what must wee doe Thus leave their inventions and returne backe to the Churches of the Apostolique institution and from them take our patterne and platforme to walke by and thus God teacheth a Eze. 20.18 Exod. 23.2 Mat. 15.24 c. us to doe and learned men also viz. Arnobius b Lib. 2. con Gent. Ignatius c Epist. ad Philadil Iulianus d De Bapt. Heret B. Iewel e Defe Apol. 6. pa. c. 16. div 2. pag. 762. D. Rainolds f Confer 195.459 and others But to goe foreward with our witnesses From these let us ascend to the very first worthies who haue brought us a great part of the light of the Gospel in this later age Zwinglius ‡ Hee was no Lutheran and Luther The first sayth thus * Ad Valen. Comp. Excommunication is not in the Bishops gathered together in a Synod but the right and power thereof is in the Congregation And therefore according to Christs commaundement in Mat. 18. Offenders ought to be brought to the Church whereof they are members ‡ Art 31. Explat Epichirisis de Canon Miss and being obstinate by the Church the Pastour pronouncing the sentence are to be cut off Againe concerning calling to the Ministery hee sayth ‡ Ecclesiastes The right of election is in the whole Church Mr. Luther another excellent witnes of Christ affirmes * Tom. 2. pag. 374. that the Church hath the right and power to judge of any doctrine also of calling the Ministers of the Gospell or if they cease to be faithfull to depose them But is not this contrary to Mr. Pagets new opinion yea altogether For though a Congregation should haue just cause to put downe some Officers notwithstanding by his grounds if they appeale unto Ministers of other Churches and they judge them fit to continue in their places then must they be left alone how vile soever they are so that to speake the truth the power which hee alloweth unto particular Congregations is just nothing Chemnitius another famous man and of rare learning among the followers of Luther is herein with us likewise for hee testifyeth that election * Exam. par pag. 226. 227. 228. Harm in Mat. 18.17 excommunication examination of sentences ‡ Exa Con. Trid. part 1. p. 3. c. belong unto the whole Church Againe observe what hee attributeth in another place to the Congregation what to the guides thereof To the first power * Exam. c. 6. to the later the administration of it Melancton * Loc. com tit de reg Christ hath the like distinction I could here mention many others of them which consent with us fully as Sarcerius a In Mat. 18. Brentius b Exeges in Ioh. 12.23 D. Rungius c In 1. Cor. 5.3.4 Hunnius d In Mat. 16. Osiander e Harm in Mat. 18.17 Salneccer f In Act. 6. Pelargus g In Act. 6. 14. D. Mylius h In 1. Cor 5 Hegendorphin i In Act. 14. c. none of these hold as Mr. Paget that particular visible Churches are noun-adjectives cannot stand without Classes and Synods but on the other side they grant them I mean to the Eldership and Brethren right and power to practise in and among themselves all Gods ordinances For those now whom for distinction sake wee name Calvinists these men I take it are the multitude of Godly and learned Ministers which doe as hee sayth agree in judgement and practise with him Now before I come to lay downe their particular allegations touching our point in controversy This I desire may be observed that it cannot be manifested as I am perswaded that there is among them all one Authour which hath in his Commentaries on the Scriptures taught the doctrine maintained by Mr. Paget here against us It is true some of them grant to the Eldership greatest authority others to the body of the Congregation Notwithstanding none haue bene so erronious as to say that the whole Church I meane Officers and Brethren wants authority to performe in and for it self all Church-services Now for the Authours Peter Martyr a Class ch 5. sect 9. in his common places making the Church a Monarchy in respect of Christ an Aristocracy in respect of the Elders addeth also that because there are matters of great weight and importance referred unto the people as excommunication absolution choosing of Ministers and the like it hath also a consideration of a popular gouvernment Of the same judgement was Iunius b Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. The whole Church sayth hee ought to chuse that is the body consisting of the Eldership and people by equall and common voyces This is the right manner of choosing Ministers With them joynes Musculus c Com. Pl. elect Mini. Viret d Groung Relg l. 3. ch 1. Bullinger e Decat 5.4 Danaeus f In Tim. 5.22 Gualter g Hom. in Act. 13.2 13.22 Sybrandus h Respons ad Hug. p. 159 D. Mornaeus i Hist pa. 542. c. Morell k Tom. 4. fol. 534. Tilenus l Respons ad Com. La Vat. Qu. 8. Epist 14 c. all these I say doe directly affirme the same thing viz. that all particular visible Churches haue full power to ordaine and chuse among themselves fit Ministers Neither can it be gathered to my knowledge anywhere in their writing that unto a full and complete calling of Church Officers any more Ecclesiasticall authority and power is required then that which Christ hath set in every Congregation distinctly and apart To the same purpose they write about excommunication and the absolution or the reconciliation of the excommunicate those are actions they say common to the whole Church and not of any private person or persons Bastingius
* Catechism Quaest 85. speaking of the difference betweene the two kees that of preaching and the other of discipline placeth it in this that the former which is the preaching of the Gospell is committed to the Ministers the other because it appertaineth to the Discipline of excommunication is permitted to the whole Church To him wee will adde Ursinus * Catech. p. 799.800 print at Oxford An. 1587. who teacheth thus Christ in these words Mat. 18.17 If hee refuse to heare the Church c. expresly commaundeth all whosoever being after this sort admonished by the Church will not repent to be by the common consent of the Church excommunicated untill they repent And whosoever are excommunicated they againe professing and shewing in their actions amendment are altogether in like sort received into the Church as they were exiled from it Namely by the judgement of the Elders by the consent of the Church and the authoritie of Christ and the Scripture And that denuntiation whereby one is excommunicated is not in the power of the Minister of the Church but in the power of the Church and is done in the name of the Church because this commaundement was given by Christ unto the Church For hee saith expreslie Tell the Church And of this judgement is Piscator a In 1. Cor. 5. Obs 1. Calvin b Inst 4.1.15 Paraeus c In 1. Cor. 5.5 Keckerman d System Theol. l. 3. Hermingius e In 1. Cor. 5 Tossanus f Comm. in 1. Cor. 5. Polanus g Synt. Theo. l. 7. c. 18. Hyperius h Comm. in 1. Cor. 5. Praedirius i In 1. Cor. 5. Munster k In Mat. 18.17 Danaeus l In Mat. 18. Oecolampadius m In Mat. 18. Beza n Annot. in 2. Thess 3.14 and others And now Mr. Paget what thinke you of these men were they not learned and Godly Ministers Reverend and judicious Divines Are they not authenticke witnesses If you confesse it then marke what followes viz. your position that particular Congregations must stand under other Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves is hence condemned by a jurie of more then 24 men of your owne chusing for an errour and untruth The reason is because these affirme I say all of them that every particular Eldership with the Churches consent may lawfully proceed among themselves to the excommunicating of offenders whensoever there is necessary and just cause Neither doe they say a word that it is a Divine institution that the Ministers of one Congregation must first aske the leave and consent of other Ministers before they can lawfully administer this ordinance of God And therefore I make some question whither you haue not wronged this multitude of learned and Godly Ministers in reporting things of them to the world which they hold not And I haue the more reason thus to thinke considering what Mr. Bucer a In Mat. 16.19 and P. Martyr b In 1. Cor. 16.3.15 write two great lightes that shined sometime in England to wit that Ecclesiasticall power and government is in the whole Church but the authority onely of administration thereof is the Presbyterie and Bishops So as in old time at Rome the power was in the people direction in the Senate But of this sort of testimonies enought is spoken wee come therefore now to the next Touching the English Conformists the formablest of them are for us in this point B. Whitgift a In his defenc ag T.C. p. 180 182. confesseth that in the Apostles time the state of the Church was popular And two pages after I call it popular saith hee because the Church had interest almost in every thing VVith him D. Bilson b Perpet Gouvernm c. 15 p. 361 agrees and writeth thus In the primitive Church the people did propose name elect and decree as well as the Clergie and though the Presbyterers had more skill to judge Yet the people had as much right to chuse their Pastour and if they most of them did agree they did cary it away from the other Againe * chap. 7. pag. 90. Marke well sayth hee the ordaining of the first Deacons they were chosen by the people Mr. Paget in pag. 22. doth acknowledge that Christ hath appointed but one order for the choose both of Pastour and Deacon As hee speakes there the truth so by it hee quite overthrowes his owne cause for if Pastours must be chosen the same way that Deacons are and they if the Apostles precept be kept chosen by the free consent of the Congregation wherein they are to administer then how comes it to passe that Classes and Synods should haue more authority then the people and may if they will disanull whatsoever the others doe herein I know what the Papists and Hierarchy say to justify their taking away from particular Congregations their due power and setting up a superiour one in the roome thereof The first gives this for a reason * Sculting Hierarch Anacr l. 11 pag. 134. The unrulines of the people deserved afterwards to have their liberty taken away The others say thus Why doe ye call us back to the primitive Church As if wee are to be tyed to the first beginnings of things as if ye would bind little infants in their blankets with swalding bondes And as if it were not lawfull for us to change those primitive rudiments which were not then so proffitable in their first originall as they seeme to be pernicious at this day Againe * Apolog. for Church Gouvernm pag. 81. There was some thing ordained by the Apostles that is no lesse hurtfull for our Churches then it was behoofull for those to whom it was appointed Which of these two arguments hee will make use off I yet know not One of them I suppose hee will and must For to say that this superiour power of Classes and Synods is Iure Divino I thinke hee will not any more doe it There being in the Scriptures no proofe yea I may boldly say nor shew of any proofe for it But because I know not what his answer shall be I will therefore say no more for this time onely I thinke it good to put him in mind of what Gerson * De Vit. spirit writeth the authoritie of the primitive Church is above all Churches and therefore it is not in the power of Pope Councill or Church to change the Doctrines and Traditions delivered by the Apostles And so I proceed To these wee will adde 4 more conformable Doctors of England viz. Whitaker Bell Willer and Taylor The first affirmeth * De Conc. qu. 5. p. 178 that Ecclesiasticall authoritie principallie primarilie and essencially belongeth to the whole Church unto Bishops onely accidentally and secondarily So againe ‡ De Rom. Pont. cont 4 qu. 4. c. 3. pag. 562. The chiefe judgement in all criminall cases is the Churches Bell sayth * Regiment of the Church ch
2 sect 4. Excommunication precisely and chiefely pertaineth to the Church and that she hath authority to commit the execution thereof to some speciall persons for that purpose and chosen for that end To the same effect Willet a Synops cont 4. qu. 4 p. 2. And Tailor b Comm. on Tit. ch 3. v. 10. p. 712. sayth that excommunication is the common action of the Church and not of any private person or persons VVhat more obvious and cleare by these mens testimonies then that every particular Congregation hath power fully in it self to performe all Gods ordinances But hath not Mr. Paget in the meane time just cause to blush who denies to the Churches of God that due power which the Learned of all professions doe grant unto her For the Non-conformists I have already shewed that they consent fully with us Pag. 23. Notwithstanding some thing more I will here speake of them and the rather because time was when Mr. Paget did esteeme them to be a multitude of Godly and learned Ministers and was or at least made a shew hee was of their judgement and practise Hee that reades the controversy betweene Downame and the Replyer shall there see this very point betwixt Mr. Paget and us largely handled The Doctor stoutly maintaineth Mr. Paget position viz. that particular Churches are dependent and stand under another Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves The other sayth otherwise and often affirmeth * Li. 2. par 2. p. 104. that the administration of all Church-matters at first was in everie congregation the right in the Church the execution in the Presbyterie thereof For this purpose hee instanceth Cenchrea * Li. 1. part 2. p. 22.23 howsoever it was the port of Corinth and not farre from it as Radcliffe or lime House to London yet it was a distinct Church from that of Corinth and alike indued with full power ‡ Note of Ecclesiasticall gouvernment Mr. Parker speakes downe right in this thing and prooves by Text of Scriptures judgement of ancient Fathers Confession of Protestant Divines and many unanswereable reasons that a Pol. Eccl. l. 3. c. 6. all Ecclesiasticall power is alwayes in the whole congregation from hence it flowes as from the fountaine and to the same it returneth as to the sea And here by the way I doe demaund of you Mr. Paget seeing every Minister as the Learned b Par. in 1. Cor. 3.2 Park Pol. Eccl. l. 3. c. 12. Tilen Specu Antichri p. 14. D. Whitak de con qu. 5. p. 118. rightly say is the Churches servant and under her authoritie and administreth for her VVhat warrant then you and others haue to make any decree or sentence against the mind and liking of a whole Church and to require them to submit thereto Me thinkes such doing becomes not servants And whither this be not to be Lords over Gods Heritage contrary to Peters charge I desire the humble and Godly to consider In Title page Vnto these wee will adde the Authour of the English Puritanisme a Booke as the Publisher reports containing the maine opinions of the rigidest sort of those that are called Puritaines * He meanes the foreward professours which stand out against the Ceremonies in the Realme of England among other truths 1. They hold and maintaine that every company Congregation or Assembly of men ordinarily joyning together in the true worship of God is a true visible Church of Christ and that the same title is improperly attributed unto any other convocations Synods Societies combinations or Assemblies whatsoever 2. They hold that all such Churches or Congregations communicating after that manner together in Divine worship are in all Ecclesiasticall matters equall and of the same power and authority and that by the word and will of God they ought to have the same spirituall Priviledges Prerogatives Officers Administrations Orders and formes of Divine worship 3. They hold that Christ Iesus hath not subiected any Church or Congregation of his note this to any other superiour Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction then unto that which is within it self so that if a whole Church or Congregation shall erre in any matter of faith or Religion no other Church or spirituall Church-Officers have by any warrant from the Word of God power to censure punish or controule the same But are onely to advise them and so to leave their soules to the immediate iudgement of Christ and their bodies to the sword of the civill Magistrate c. 4. They hold that every established Church ought as a speciall prerogive wherewith shee is indued by Christ to have power and liberty to chuse their owne spirituall and Ecclesiasticall Officers c. 5. They hold that if in this choyse any particular Churches shall erre that none upon earth but the Civill Magistrate hath power to controule or correct them for it c. 6. They hold that the Ecclesiasticall Officers and Ministers of one Church ought not to beare any Ecclesiasticall office in another but ought to be tyed unto that Congregation of which they are members and by which they are elected into office c. There is nothing here sayd but many others of our learned Country-men have sayd the like as D. Ames a Casconsc l. 4. c. 29. Mr. Banes b Dioces Triall conclus 4. Mr. Bates c Pag. 66. Mr. Fenner d Against Bridg pag. 15.16 Mr. Vdall e Demonst. Discipl pag. 24.25 c. In the English Church at Franckford in Queene Maries dayes it was agreed upon that ‡ Discours of troub Frank. pag. 115. the Ministers and Seniours severally and iointly shall have no authority to make any manner of Decrees or Ordinances to bind the Congregation or any member thereof But shall execute such ordinances as shall be made by the Congregation and to them delivered Againe None shall be excommunicated untill the matter be first heared by the whole Church That the Ministers and Seniours and every of them be subiect to Ecclesiasticall discipline as other private members of the Church be Neither shall Mr. Hookers * In his answer to Mr. Pagets 20. quest Answ 11. Testimony be unremembred who affirmeth that a particular Congregation may lawfully and without sinne call a Minister without or against the approbation of the Classis And hee gives this reason for it They which had complete and perfect Ministers before any Classis had power fully to call them But a particular Congregation had perfect and complete Ministers perfectly and completely called before any Classis Ergo c. Thus Reader thou mayst perceive that Mr. Paget hath left the way of Non-conformitie yea and shewes himself to it a great adversary Indeed so sore a one that in his own words I may truely say As Herod to kill one infant Pag. 73. spared not to kill a multitude of other infants so hee that hee might undermine us and blow us up into the ayre hee cared not
7. p. 884. Deu. 16.21 Col. 2.23 Exo. 20.24 are stewards whose duety is not to prescribe new Lawes unto the familie but faithfully to keepe the Lawes of the householder and to doe every thing according to his commaundement 2. All such inventions of men as are devised for any service of God are abhorred by the Lord Hee likes nothing but what hee appointeth himself 3. God promiseth his presence onely in his owne ordinances and therefore wee cannot exspect that hee will either accept or blesse * See Mr. Dod upon 2 Comm. Elton on Colos p. 308 Per. idol last times p. 674. c. that thing which is not done accordingto his revealed will 4. Herein wee obey the Lord ‡ Esa 8.20 1 The. 5.21 1 Ioh. 3.1 Act. 17.11 and walke in the stepts of the faithfull 5. In this wee take no more liberty then others have formerly done Luther in the Preface of the Assertion of the Articles condemned by the Bull of Leo X. Hee sayth I call them to record of this my protestation that I will be urged to yeeld by no mans authority though hee be never so holy a Father but as farre as hee shall be approoved by the judgement of the divine Scriptures And here I will conclude this point in the words of Augustine Wee weigh not the writings of all men be they never so worthie as wee weigh the Canonicall Scriptures but that Ad Fortun. Epist. 111. saving the reverence that is due unto them we may mislike and refuse somewhat in their writings if wee find that they have taught otherwise then the Scriptures will beare Let it here be observed that Mr. Paget pleadeth for his Discipline as the Papists doe for theirs They say * Sculting Hier. Anar 1. pag. 15.19.25 Church gouvernment is not to be taken onely from the Scriptures but from the wholesome precepts of the Fathers and institutions of old Canons I suppose hee dares not affirme that unto the lawfull calling of a Minister God requireth every particular Church to seeke the allowance of the Classis and that they shall not proceed in the thing without their advise Notwithstanding hee doth what hee can to subject us unto this humaine ordinance and will not suffer us otherwise to goe on and therefore as I said hee and they have taken up one devise to bring all Churches if they could into miserable bondage But let him remember the words of Salomon ‡ Prov. 22.28 Remoove not the ancient limit which thy fathers have set This is a great sinne in all places * Iob 24.2 but greatest in the Churches of the Saints Mr. Davenport judgeing it wholy unlawfull to baptise any infant whose Parents one at least are no members of any particular Congregation alleadged for it certaine Scriptures Pag. 133 134. c. unto which Mr. Paget hath answered But whether effectually wee are now to inquire The first is Act. 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers c. To this Mr. Paget as before makes 8 Replyes most of which I take them to be so impertinent as not capable indeed of any answer Leaving the first to M r Davenport because it concerneth his owne person wee come to the second where hee writeth thus Suppose Paul in the place alledged had required no more of the Pastours of Ephesus yet might a further duetie have bene laid upon them in some other place of Scripture It is no good kind of disputing to argue thus No more is required of Ministers in such and such a place therefore in no other place at all Answ 1. Be it here noted that these words tend unto the upholding of the vilest errours that can be For from the ground which hee hath here laid downe what Divine truth is there but may be coulorably gaine-said and resisted For example If a man to proove that there are three persons in the Godhead no more should alledge for it 1. Ioh. 5.7 There are three that beare record in Heaven c. Might not a Heathen take up his words and say O Sir it is no good kind of disputing to argue thus No more are mentioned in such and such a place therefore in no other place at all I marvaill how Mr. Paget would be able to stoppe such an adversaries mouth In his next writing I shall exspect to see some thing about it In the meane time I doe advertise him to beware of these rash and inconsiderate sayings Hee cannot be ignorant what a most daungerous worke hee hath set forth once already Seeking by it as one * Mr. Ains Advertism to the Read at the end of the 5. Bookes of Moyses published in England by authority against him truely chargeth him to strike at the very text and to weaken our common faith For which thing hee lyeth to this day under the just Censure and sharpe reproofe of many Godly and Learned men It would be good therefore for him in Iobs ‡ Cha. 40.5 42.6 words to say Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twise but I will proceed no further Wherefore I abhorre my self and repent in dust and ashes 2. Whereas hee answereth with If or might be this sheweth that being not able to avoyd the force of the Scripture yet unwilling to ascent unto it hee loves to be contentious and to seeke a knot in a rish If there be any place of Scripture to his knowledge that doth require the Pastours of Ephesus to baptise such infants whose Parents are without it had bene his duety to have named it But if hee know no such thing as I am sure hee doth not then let him know that his reasoning is fruitlesse and deceitfull too If a man will be perverse it is no mastery to have a distinction and to say some thing though without brane or sence But what sayth Vives * Lib. 1. de Caus art corrupt They are base wits that are so affected For ingenious minds and natures well given will rather seeke how true that is which they hold then how they may defend it making greater price of verity then victory 3. To answer the thing more fully the ordinary examples of the Godly in Scripture are set downe for our imitation yea and wee are exhorted to follow the same Phil. 4.8.9.10 2 Ti. 3.10 1 Cor. 4.17 10.11 Heb. 13.15 Iam. 5.17 Luk. 4.25.26.27 These things sayth Paul which yee have heard and seene in me doe Hence it is that the Apostle having spoken of the vertues of many true beleevers Heb. 11. likeneth them in chap. 12.1 unto the Cloud which the Israelites had in the desert by which they were guided unto the Land of Canaan And in particular the intent of the holy Ghost in causing the Acts of the Apostles to be recorded was that the same should be as a Cloud to direct us in the way to heaven Now
other then a meere begging of the question hee bringeth in the Classes and Synods for his proofe whereas hee should first have prooved that the power which they assume over many Churches is lawfull Before I come to lay downe my particular answers to it I shall entreat him in his next Booke to resolve me these few Questions 1. VVhither the Assembly mentioned in Act. 15. were a Synod or Classis 2. How it can be manifested from that place that both are divine institutions as here is affirmed 3. How hee can naturally from thence rayse this doctrine viz. excommunications and elections of Ministers are actions belonging unto Classes and Synods 4. VVhither it be Iure Divino that Ecclesiasticall Officers of many Churches are necessarily bound to determine by joint authority the cases of many particular Congregations or whither it be a thing arbitrary and left unto every mans liberty 5. Whither all such cases and controversies as are decided by many Ministers combined into Classes and Synods must so stand as that particular Congregations may not if they thinke fit reject the same and practise otherwise then hath bene there determined by joint authority I haue the more hope that Mr. Paget will give a direct answer to these questions Pag. 39. Seeing a good conscience hee sayth suffers not a man to be neutrall nor to suspend his judgement when it is desireously desired but forceth him to beare witnesse unto the truth c. To the point now I doe deny that this place Act. 15. prooveth any such thing for which it is alledged For 1. here was no combination of many Ministers of divers Churches but onely a few messengers sent from Antiochia unto the Congregation at Ierusalem about a controversy there specifyed Hence it is affirmed by many learned men * D. Bridg. pag. 1224. that as this was an assembly of one onely particular Church so it binds * D. Whita De conc Q 2 p. 6. and p. 67. onely but in a speciall or particular meeting 2. As Mr. Cartwright ‡ Refut Rhemist on the place saith Paul and Barnabas went not up to Ierusalem to submit their judgement to the judgement of the Apostles for that had diminished the authoritie of their doctrine then which there was no greater in the Word they being both infallablie directed by the Holy Ghost Onely they went up to conferre with them and for countenance of the truth in respect of men and for the stopping of the mouthes of such deceivers as pretended they were sent * Vers 24. by the Apostles In a word that no suspition might remaine in the minds of the people as if Paul in doctrine differed from the rest 3. If Ierusalem lay north-ward 200 miles from Antioch as I read * Itiner Novi Testo fol. 96. it did Surely then hee hath small reason to bring this Scripture as the ground and foundation of the Classicall Assembly yea and to tell us ‡ Pag. 88. that it is a remarkable place of Scripture to warrant the exercise of that power which wee deny And a little after This one allegation is sufficient to evince the falshood of their assertion But before you make such hasty conclusions haue a little patience to heare us to speake for our selves I pray how can you proove that the officers of these two Churches being two hundred miles asunder were combined and mett ordinarily together as the Classes doe to determine the cases of many Churches Or how doe you proove that there was any Officer at all of Antioch in Ierusalem at this time Briefly or how doe you proove that the Brethren sent from Antioch exercised authority in the Church at Ierusalem yet all this you must make good otherwise you are guilty of abusing and perverting the Scripture in affirming that the power which the Classis exerciseth was practised at Antioch and Ierusalem and by Apostolicall direction This you have spoken but it is untrue Notwithstanding had you rested in Stev Ofw. testimony your fault had bene small in comparison what it is now through your great presumtion to take God for your witnes Ier. 23.31 in a thing which hee never spake Behold saith the Lord I am against the Prophets that use their tongues and say Hee saith it 4. It is certaine Vers 12.22 De Conc. Q 8. c. 3. Qu. 3. c. 3. p. 96.97 that at Ierusalem not onely the Apostles and Elders mett together but as Luke expresseth it the Church also being interested in the thing And therefore gave sentence with the rest to the decree then made Observe what D. Whitaker replyes unto Bellarmine denying the multitude to be called It was alwayes sayth hee the practise of the Apostles in common cases to call the whole Church together and no doubt but they did so here Now there was no need to have it mentioned seeing it had bene their constant custome formerlie so to doe Mr. Parker ‡ Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 12. pag. 108.126.334 affirmes the same So the Authours of the Cent. * Cent. 1. l. 2 c. 9. p. 547.548 And it seemes in Cyprians ‡ Lib. 4. Epist. 16. time the Church was not deprived of her right herein howsoever the Papists * Bellarm. de Conc Ecc. l. 1. c. 16. pag. 39. in those dayes teach otherwise and Mr. Paget and others doe otherwise practise 5. Howsoever the Church at Antioch sent some Brethren with Paul and Barnabas unto the Church at Ierusalem notwithstanding and let it be well observed they did not this as being a dependent body and standing under another Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves For as Mr. Parker * Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 20. p. 301. 314. excellently prooves it the Church at Antioch at this time had absolute power in for her self to haue ended the controversy and might haue done it I say in respect of authority without acquainting therewith any other Congregation at all To the same purpose another sayth * D. Whita Conc. Qu. 1. c. 1. The Church of Antioch sent not to Ierusalem as being bound in duety thereto But in regard it was the chief place of Religion therefore they made choose freelie of that Congregation as knowing them to be best able to resolve the controversie True it is the Hierarchie * D. Whit. g. T. C. 3. deny this of whose opinion Mr. Paget must either be or els the Classes as they now rule must fall to the ground for any relief that this Scripture Act. 15. will yeeld unto them 6. When the Hierarchie alledge Act. 15. to proove their Diocesan and Provinciall Synods lawfull marke how they are answered by the Reformists The particular acts of the Apostles in cases alike Park Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 20. p. 315. 316. must alike be observed If this reason be effectuall as indeed it is against them then it is no lesse effectuall against the Classes Now I haue in part