in resect of quickning Grace whence they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 2.5 Hence they grow up in all things into him which is the Head Christ and are edifying and edified Members in the Body Eph. 4.15 16. Nor is Christ the Head only of the Catholick Church but also of every particular Church instituted by him which is therefore frequently by Christ himself called the Kingdom of God and of Heaven the King whereof is Christ his Subjects are visible Believers professing their Faith in him and their subjection to his Laws and Ordinances 2 Cor. 9.13 This Soveraign power is so properly Christs that it is not communicable to any Creature nor can any man be his Substitute or Vicar herein For neither doth Christ or his Church need such a Vicar or visible Head of the Church seeing the Church is compleat in Christ alone Col. 2.10 Nor is any Creature capable of discharging the Office of an Head unto the Church Ephes 1.20 21 22 23. 2. Consect Then it is not in the power of Earthly Kings or States or Civil Courts to make Ecclesiastical Laws or to invent and impose any Rites or Forms of Worship upon Churches according to Principles of State-Policy or Humane Prudence Though Moses was as well a great Prophet as a great Prince yet God left no part of the building of the Tabernacle to his prudence but limited him in all things to the pattern in the Mount Exod. 25.40 Nor might Solomon though the wisest of meer men act by his own wisdom in building the Temple ◠Chon 28.11 12 13. but he was guided therein by the perfect pattern which David gave him from the Spirit So concerning Christian Churches Christ hath given his People a perfect pattern which he requireth the Ministers to hold forth distinctly in every point of it to his people according to that Prophesie in Ezek. 43.10 11. That they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and do them which also Christ expresly requireth in Matth. 28.19 20. 3. Consect Then every particular visible Church must exalt Christ and his Institutions alone in their whole Church-Order and in all their Admistrations This is their visible receiving Christ Jesus the Lord and walking in him Col. 2.5 6. The Church is Christ's House and it 's equal according to Natural light and civil prudence that every man should bear Rule in his own House Esth 1.22 Much more Christ who is God and Man Artaxerxes shall rise up in judgment with all such as incroach upon Christ's Right in ordering Churches by their policies and condemn them for he fearing the jealousy and wrath of God if men should take such liberty to themselves provided against it by a strict Decree saying Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven let it be diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven for why should there be wrath against the Realm c. Esth 7.23 Nor is the wrath of Christ less formidable to us or his jealousie less incensed against those that either add to or take from or alter his Institutions now than in times past but rather more Hebr. 12.25 to the end So much shall serve touching the Efficient Cause and Institutor of particular visible Churches CHAP. II. Concerning the Material Cause THe Materials whereof this Spiritual Building must consist are implyed when Christ saith Vpon this Rock will I build c. together with Peters confession in ver 16. and Christ's approbation of it ver 17. which gave occasion to this Speech of Christ Vpon this Rock c. For the Rock is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 But how considered not simply and in an abstract sense but 1. As Preached by the Ministry of the Gospel Ephes 2.20 2. As believed on with a Faith made visible by publick confession according to Rom. 10.9 10. Christ believed on is the Foundation or Rock of the Catholick invisible Church But Christ believed on and confessed is the Rock whereupon a particular visible Church is built In this Exposition sundry of the Ancient Writers (a) Basil Tract de poenit Gre. Naz. de Comp. disserendi ratione Theod in Psal 47. Ambr. in Eph. 2.20 Aug. in lib. 1. Retract c. 21. and the Orthodox Modern generally consent The Doctrinal conclusion which these words of the Charter afford us concerning the materials of particular visible Churches is that 2. Conclusion It is the will and appointment of Christ that all and only such grown persons be admitted Members of particular Churches who make such a publick profession of their Faith as the Church may in charitable discretion conceive hath blessedness annexed to it and is such as flesh and blood hath not revealed to a man but our Heavenly Father 1. That Christ here meant a particular visible Church and not only the Catholick Church we have partly evinced already and shall more fully hereafter 2. That persons meant by Christ here are adulti grown persons appeareth by his questions to the Apostles Whom do men say and whom do ye say that I am and by Peter's answer As for Infants they are indeed Members of the Church and as such Baptized yet it is so only as they are included in their Parents by vertue of the Covenant wherein they are wrapped with their Parents Gen. 17.7 Acts 2.38 39. 1 Cor. 7.14 3. That such adulti or grown persons must make a publick confession of Faith before the Lord and his people So Christ required Peter to do here and when he had so done said Christ Vpon this Rock I will build my Church viz. in after times For no particular Christian Church was actually constituted at this time nor till after the Ascension of Christ in Act. 1. q. d. Then take this course and ever after all the World over if you will have a particular Church to be acknowledged by me to be my building 4. That their Confession of Faith must be so made as that the Church may in charitable discretion conceive it to have blessedness annexed c. For seeing it pleaseth Christ to use Men as his Instruments in building his Church Zach. 6.15 Ephes 4.11 12. He is content that they improve the judgement which they have Christs judgement concerning Peter was infallible for he knew what was in man John 2.25 But the Officers and Members of the Church are but men who judge by the outward appearance 1 Sam. 16.7 Therefore their judgment is fallible and hath been deceived as we see in the judgement of the Apostles and the Church at Jerusalem concerning Ananias and Sapphira and in that of Philip and the Church in Samaria concerning Simon Magus c. Their duty is to proceed as far as men may by Rule with due moderation and gentleness to try them who offer themselves to fellowship whether they be Believers or not refusing known Hypocrites though when they have done all they can close Hypocrites will creep in 5. That all they who hold
6.13 2. Though it be true that the Churches of Asia and Rome have been prevailed against by the gates of Hell yet not as they were built by Christ or planted by the Apolstes but their degenerate Posterity and Successours who were not built on this Rock but on an outward Form and neglected the means appointed by Christ for their safety The Apostle Paul forewarned the Romans to beware of Apostacy by the example of the Jews Rom. 11.12 They nevertheless in succeeding generations did degenerate from the Faith and Profession of their Predecessors and so fell into the gulf of Antichristian Apostacy But as when God took his visible Kingdom from the Jews for their obstinacy in unbelief he did not destroy his visible Kingdom totally from the face of the Earth but gave it to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Mat. 21.43 So though in his righteous judgement against Apostates he may destroy this or that particular Congregational Church yet the gates of Hell shall not prevail wholly against the Church-state but it shall be preserved He doth but translate the Candlestick not break it all to pieces he doth but remove it out of one place into another Rev. 2.5 and still preserveth it in some particular Congregation or other 3. Though the gates of Hell have sometime and in some degree prevailed against this or that particular visible Church holding fast the profession of their Faith without wavering yet they have not prevailed according to the meaning of these words They have prevailed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only in some respect as 1. in Temporals to impoverish them Heb. 10.34 to bring them under bondage as Pharaoh did the Israelites to establish a decree for their destruction as Haman did against the Jews to put multitudes of them to death as the ten persecuting Emperors did the Christians and as the high Priest and the Jews dealt with Christ 2. In Spirituals 1. to scatter the Members of the Church so far the gates of Hell prevailed against them upon occasion of Stephen Act. 8.1 and to cause the Woman to flye into the Wilderness Rev. 12. 2. To assault them with temptations as Christ told Peter that Satan had desired to winnow him like Wheat But they could not prevail against the Church absolutely and totally 1. Not against all of them in Smyrna by outward calamities Rev. 2.10 Nor against all in Sardis by temptation Rev. 3.4 2. Nor totally against the whole Church For God did raise up unexpected helps for the Woman fled into the Wilderness Rev. 12.6 14 16. to that part of them which remains on earth and for the other part of them God will receive his people when outward subsistence fails into everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 And when the gates of Hell prevail to the dispersion of a particular Church built on this Rock yet that is not to their destruction but tendeth to the multiplication and inlargement of particular Churches The dispersion of the Church at Jerusalem was like the dispersion of Seed into the Field which bringeth forth a more plentiful Harvest so their dispersion prevailed against the gates of Hell to the propagating of sundry Churches Act. 11.19 21. Thus the Lord turned the Policies of the gates of Hell against themselves according to that promise Zach. 12.3 Thus we see the impregnable stability of Christ his Church built upon this Rock We shall now prove by Reason that it must be so Reas 1 From Christ who is the Head of the visible Church as well as of the invisible 1 Cor. 12.27 And he will not suffer the sound Members of his Body to be plucked and torn from it by the gates of Hell He is the builder of his Chuch Heb. 3.3 4. and therefore will establish it When the Ark was built by Noah as Gods Instrument according to God's appointment it stood against all the power of the Deluge He is the Foundation as he is belived and publickly confessed whereupon he buildeth his Church Against an House so built the Winds and Waves cannot prevail Matth. 7.24 25. Reas 2 From the Promises given to such a Church which are of two sorts 1. For protection Isa 4.5 6. where be prophesieth concerning the Church of Christ under the New Testament and describes Gods protection over them by a twofold allusion 1. By the Pillar of Cloud and Fire that protected the people of Israel at the Red Sea from Pharaoh and his Host 2. By the covering of the Tabernacle and the holy things in it from all injuries of weather Exod. 26.14 Rev. 7.16 And his power is ingaged to perform his promise Joh. 10.28 29. And his Providence will order all issues and events thereunto Isa 54.16 17. Mat. 28.18 20. 2ly For victory Rom. 16.20 If the Lord will tread Satan under their feet he will see to it that Satan shall not tread them under his feet Reas 3 From the titles given to particular visible Churches They are frequently in the New Testament called the Kingdom of Heaven and Hell cannot prevail against Heaven They are called the Kingdom of Christ and God the Father hath established his Kingdom by an oath Psal 89.35 36. To confirm our Faith herein he calls the Sun and Moon to be witnesses vers 37. The Sun may be clouded sometimes and Moon is sometimes in the Full sometimes in the Wane but still it is in the Heaven So it is with the Church on Earth Dr. Whitt ad Rat. Camp Resp p. 56. Semper fuisse in terris futuram deinceps Ecclesiam non dubitamus quanquam ejus aspectum aliquando illustrem ut conspici ab omnibus possit aliquando tantâ caligine ut vix agnoscas obscuratam esse fateamur And it belongs to Christ to break the Serpent's Head who can proceed no further than to bruise his hâ—el Gen. 3.15 He is that little stone that brake the Image to pieces which represented the Monarchies and Powers whereby the gates of Hell sought to prevail against Christ and his Church Dan. 2.45 Christs Church is called an House of prayer to all Nations Isa 56.7 The Israel of God Gal. 6.16 in allusion to the change of Jacobs name who by prayer obtained victory and protection against Esau Gen. 32.28 Hos 12.2 3. So shall the Church of Christ by prayer obtain deliverance from the gates of Hell that they shall not prevail against them Reas 4 From the state of the Devils themselves and all their instruments 1. They are cursed Gen. 12.3 I will curse them that curse thee therefore they shall not prosper in their interprizes against the Church of Christ 2. They were conquered and captivated and triumphed over by Christ before he did build his Church Ephes 4.8 12. Therefore shall not hinder the building of it nor destroy it being built 3. They are enemies unto Christs Kingdom Therefore shall not prevail Ps 2.2 3 4. and 110.1 2. Let us briefly note some Corollaries hence Then in vain boasteth that Roman
may by the eyes which are given to it for that end 2. The Confirmation or proof that such a Church is the first and proper subject of this power shall be double 1. By Scripture 2. By Reasons 1. By Scripture it may be proved from sundry Texts 1. This in hand clearly confirmeth it if that good ancient rule of expounding Scripture be received Dictorum intelligentia ex causis dictorum sumenda est For Christ's question to the Disciples which was the cause of Peter's confession here was only concerning the Faith common to the Church Whom say ye that I am Hereupon Peter in the name of the Disciples made this confession of Faith Quia Christus Petra Petrus populus Christianus August in Matth. de verbis Domini Ser. 13. Christ testified his approbation of it by calling him Peter not so much in respect of his Office as of his Faith thus publickly professed whence also visible Believers are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.4 5. and Christ added to this praise of Peter a twofold promise 1. Of edifying and stablishing the Church upon this Rock 2. Of affording it sufficient means for the attainment of those ends viz. the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. Where the Kingdom of Heaven or visible Church of Christ on earth is compared to a City or House the Door or Gate whereof is Christ the Keys are all instituted means whereby an entrance into Christ and his Kingdom visibly is opened and shut the subordinate power whereof is here given to the Church immediately The second Text is in Mat. 18.17 18. Tell the Church if he hear not the Church let him be as an Heathen and a Publican For what you shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven c. This cannot be meant of Elders assembling together and acting apart from the Brethren For no such assembly is called the Church in the New Testament much less is this power given to them for in case of scandal given by them they are under the power of the whole Church as well as other Members to be censured by them though when they keep the Rule they are as Elders Rulers in the Church It must therefore be meant of a Congregational-Church The third Text is in 1 Cor. 5. where Paul exhorted the Church at Corinth to exercise this their power which he calls the power of the Lord Jesus v. 4. whereby they were to deliver unto Satan that incestuous person v. 5. and were to purge out the old leaven v. 7. and were to judge those that are within v. 12. and to put away that wicked person from among them v. 13. and this Paul calls a punishment inflicted by many 2 Cor. 2.6 Thus he establisheth their power to bind and teacheth them how to use it and in like manner he exhorteth them upon the mans repentance to turn the Key and to open the Door of Christian liberties to him and to loose him from the former censure by forgiving him in a legal or judicial sense 2 Cor. 2.7 10. And that this Church at Corinth was a meer Congregational-Church it may be evinced from hence that the whole Church was no larger then was wont to meet together in one place 1 Cor. 14.23 for the ordinary worship of God 2. By Reasons 1. Because in such a Congregational-Church are all the causes of this power 1. Efficient the Institution and Ordinance of Christ who delegateth this subordinate power to whom it pleaseth him by his own appointment 2. The material cause visible Believers 3. The formal cause Covenanting together to walk in all the Ordinances of Christ and to submit mutually one to another in the Lord to be reclaimed if they err from the rules or to be censured by the power of the whole if they be found obstinate 2. Because there is no former subject of this power from whence a Congregational-Church might derive it but it is communicated by means of the Church to all that partake of it and it remaineth in the Church when others are removed They choose their own Elders therefore they had this power virtually in them before they had Elders and so could not derive it from them 2. All particular Churches are of equal power within themselves not one of them subordinate to another Therefore they derive it not from other particular Churches 3. Synods both lesser and larger are made up of the Elders and Messengers sent from particular Churches and have their being from them nor do they send them to them to borrow any Church-power but only light from them as the Church at Antioch did from the Church at Jerusalem Acts 15. Therefore they derive no Church-power from them Again when the Elders of particular Churches are dead or censured or rejected by the power of the whole for obstinacy in scandalous evils the Church still retaineth its power to choose others as a Corporation hath its full power still though the Magistrates be dead or cast out The same holds in Churches in Islands by their own confession when they cannot have the help of Synods Thus we prove Fire to be the first subject of heat because if it be in other things as in Water or Wood it is there by the means of Fire and when they are removed yet still it remains in Fire The like reason holds in this as you see to prove such a Church as this of which we speak to be the first subject of Church-Power or of the Keys 3. Because all the acts done immediatly by the Church in opening and shutting in binding and loosing flow from this power of the Keys given them by Christ and hold it forth 1. Their admitting Members is an act of this Power and holds it forth for till the Brethren be satisfied and approve ones fitness he cannot be received into their fellowship Act. 9.26 and 10.47 2. Their choosing Officers is an act of this Power which the Apostles would not violate in adding Deacons Act. 6.3 5. and Ruling-Elders to the Church Act. 14.23 and the same holds much more concerning Pastors and Teachers This power Cyprian acknowledged to be in the * Plebs obsequens praeceptis Dominicis Deum metuens ipsa maximè habet potestatem vel eligendi dignos sacerdotes vel indignos recusandi Quod ipsum videmus de Divinâ authoritate descendere Cypr. l. 1. ep 4. People principally to accept or refuse Ministers as they judged them worthy or unworthy 3. Their Ordination of Officers by deputing some chosen out of their own Body thereunto in the want of Officers is an act of this Power of the Keys residing in them For though the Offices of Elders in general and the Authority of their Office as they are Rulers is from Christ immediately yet the investing of this or that elect person with this Office Authority in relation to this or that Church by application of it to him in particular rather than to another this is by the
Church-Communion by Believers joyning to a particular Congregation and walking in a Memberlike affection and fellowship with their Brethren unto mutual edification but they speak nothing for the subjection of particular Churches to Classes and Synods in re propriâ but rather intimate the contrary For the Apostle by comparing a Congregational-Church compleated with its Officers unto the Body of a man intire in all its Members sheweth that as the Body of a man being intire and sound hath compleat power within it self for all bodily actions so a particular Church being organized and governed by Christ the Head from whom the whole Body fitly joyned and compacted together by Joynts of supply according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Ephes 4.15 16. without the influence of any Jurisdiction out of it self to supply a Superior Church-power which was wanting in this Body of Chirist a Congregational-Church and as the Body Natural being sound and of a good constitution hath sufficient ability in it self to purge out of it self Malignant Humors so such a Church hath sufficient power in it self to cast out vicious and hurtful Members without the intervention of Classical Jurisdiction over them 2. It is a sin against the second Commandment in such as having means and opportunity neglect to joyn as Members in a particular Congregation because it is God's Ordinance and revealed Will 2 Cor. 8.5 But Classical Jurisdiction over particular Churches and their subjection thereunto is no Ordinance of Christ and therefore it is so far from being necessary that it is not lawful but against the second Commandment which forbiddeth mens inventions in God's worship that it may establish only God's Ordinances therein Others argue thus As though a Town or Family being alone may govern as a compleat Body yet when it stands in a Common-wealth it may not be so independent but must submit to Combinations So though when a particular Congregation is alone it may govern as compleat yet not so when it is among other Churches Answ 1. There is not a like reason of Churches and of Towns or Families in this respect For civil Societies are more left to Rules of Humane prudence by the great Ruâ—â—â— of the World than Churches are Therefore civil Societies may be of several constitutions have different Laws and Priviledges and admit various forms of Government provided that they be not against Moral Rules and the good of the People But in this Spiritual Kingdom of Christ men may not alter the kind or Form of Church which Christ hath Instituted but must preserve inviolate the Laws Administrations Priviledges and Church-Government ordained by him without Addition Diminution or alteration Hence a particular Church may not alienate from it self in whole or part any Right Power or Priviledge given it by Christ 2. If such a Town or Family hath compleat power and Officers within it self it is not bound to submit to such Combinations in a Common-wealth except it be under a Superiour Power that can command the same Abraham having a compleat Family was not bound to combine with the Governments he dwelt amongst nor did he though he joyned in a League of amity and for mutual help with Aner Eschol and Mamre yet not to submit to their Government So neither is a particular Organical Church bound to submit to such Classical Combinations till it can be proved by Scripture that a Superior Power of other Churches can command the same 3. Though several Families not having compleat Government within themselves must combine in a Common-wealth yet not to yield up their Family-Government over their Wives Children and Servants respectively to rule them in common with other Masters of Families Much less may several Congregational-Churches give up the Government of themselves to Pastors of sundry Churches combined in a Classis to govern them in their proper Affairs such as Admission of Members Election and Ordination of Officers Administration of Seals and Censures 1. Corollary Then the censure of Excommunication is not a light matter but to be looked at as very weighty and formidable You see 1. That it is the Soveraign Remedy prescribde by Christ against the many Diseases whereunto the Body is subject the great preservative of the Churches peace and safety against the gates of Hell 2. That it is such a Power given by Christ to his Church as proveth Church-Societies to be the visible Suburbs of Heaven yea the Kingdom of Heaven begun on Earth seeing such an Heavenly Power is committed to them This is a greater work than Elijah did when he shut up Heaven that it rained not Jam. 5.17 For that was but an outward and temporal Judgment for three years and six moneths But this is Spiritual and for ever upon impenitent persons It is greater than Earthly Kings and Magistrates can do they can bind a Malefactor hand and foot and deliver him to the Jaylor and sentence him to banishment out of their Dominions but this Censure binds the Soul and Conscience delivers them to Satan and excludes obstinate impenitent sinners from the Kingdom of God that when this Censure is applyed by the Church according to Scripture-Rules Jesus Christ is with them to ratifie his Censure according to this Promise What you shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and to bless it to the attainment of its end the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved This is a singular Priviledge of Church-Members If they that are out of Church-fellowship bless themselves in their Liberty because they cannot be touched with Church-censures they shew their extream folly therein for they are left to the Sword of the Magistrate or to the immediate judgment of God as forlorn Creatures excluded from Spiritual helps suitable to their needs They are as Sheep whom no man taketh up or careth for in a Spiritual way Isa 3.13 14. It is therefore a special priviledge of Church-Members and much for the furtherance of their eternal Salvation if they improve it aright to the mortifying of those corruptions in them which could not be purged out and healed by easier means And this is the proper end of it that seeing themselves as Adam driven from the Tree of Life by the flaming Sword of a Cherubim or as Cain cast out from Gods face or as the Leper shut out from the fellowship of God's people or as that Incestuous Corinthian delivered up to Satan they may be ashamed humbled and effectually brought to Repentance and to hold it forth according to God's Rules If it work not this effect the fault is their own Yet it will not be without effect For as the Gospel is the savour of Death unto Death when it is not the savour of Life unto Life so this Gospel-Ordinance shall not be in vain but shall work one way or t'other either the destruction of the impenitent or the salvation of those that repent