A Christian Plea, Treatise 3 · Chapter 2
CHAPTER II. Touching the constitution of particular Churches.
VVHether by the ordinance of God, there should be any ſet ordinarie churches novv, but onelyonly particular churches, And vvhether the conſtitution of al the particular churches should not be ſuch, as each of them, may ordinarily come together in one place: for the performance of the vvorship of God, and all other dueties apperteyning unto them, by the word of God?
I. Becauſe the Primitiue churches vvere thus planted and conſtituted by the Apoſtles: And this alſo approved and ſtablished by Chriſt our Lord. As may be ſeen in the ſeuen Churches of Aſia, ſpoken of in the Revelation, Rev. 1, 4, 12, 13, 20. vvith ch. 2, 1, 8, 12, 18. & 3, 1, 7, 14. And in the other like churches: at Ieruſalem, Act. 1, 13, 14, 15. and 6, 2, 5. and 15, 22, 23. and 21, 18, 22. at Lyſtra, Iconium, and Antioch, Act. 14, 21, 23, 27. and 15, 30. at Troas, Act. 20, 7, 8. at Epheſus, Act. 20, 17, 28. Rev. 2, 1. vvith 1 Tim. 1, 3. and 3, 15. and 5, 20. at Rome, Rom. 12, 3 — 8. at Cenchrea, Rom. 16, 1. at Corinth, 1 Cor. 1, 2. and 4, 17. with chap. 5, 4. and 10, 16, 17. and 11, 20, 22, 23. and 12, 18, 19 — 27. and 14, 23, 33, 40. In Galatia, Gal. 1, 2. at Philippi, Phil. 1, 1. at Coloſſe and Laodicea, Col. 4, 16, 17. at Theſſalonica, 1 Theſ. 1, 1. vvith ch. 5.12.13.14.27. &c.
II. Thus alſo the particular churches of Chriſtians, are ſtill anſvverable (in this behalf) to the particular Synagogues of the Iewes, Luke 4, 16, 20, 31, 33. & 7, 5. Act. 13.14.15. and 17.1. and, 18, 4, 7, 8, 27. And as the houſe where the Iewes met was called a Synagogue, Luke 7, 5. ſo the Apoſtle now alſo calleth the meeting of Chriſtians together, a Synagogue, Jam. 2, 2. Neither this onelyonly, but ſeeing novv everie particular conſtituted church hath right and povver vvithin it ſelf to celebrate the Lords ſupper, vvhichwhich is anſwerable to the Paſſeover, that vvas kept at Ieruſalem: this shevveth moreover, that now everie particular church is to be eſteemed as Ieruſalem: and ſo to ſtand immediately under Ieſus Chriſt the Archpaſtor of his sheep, and the high Prieſt of our profeſſion. 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17, 18. and 11, 23. &c. Act. 2, 42. and 20, 7, 17, 28. compared with Deut. 12, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14. and 16, …, 5, 6. 2 Chron. 29. and 30. and 35 ch. Ezra 6, 18, 19. Eſa. 66, 19 — 23. Ier. 3, 15, 16, 17. Rev. 21, 1, 2. &c.
III. Neyther els can the Paſtor of each particular Church ſtand immediately under Chriſt the Archpaſtor: Nor can the Miniſters and Elders jointly, & together vvith their flock, ſanctify the Lords day, nor feed the Church over vvhichwhich the holy Ghoſt hath made them Overſeers, nor performe any other publick action, with them, unto them, & before them, duly and orderly, vvhether it be the miniſtration of the vvord, or of the Sacraments, or Cenſures, or any actions that are publikely & joyntly together to be performed: according as was done in the Synagogues of the Ievves, and in the primitiue churches. For which ſee the Scriptures here before alledged, and other the like: as Mark 13, 34 — 37. Luke 4.16 — 20. & 12, 42. Act. 20.…, 28. Rom. 12.4 — 8. 1 Cor. 4.1. and 14.23.33 — 40. Col. 4.17. 1 Pet. 5.1 — 4. 1 Tim. 5.17.20. Heb. 13.7.8.17.
IIII. Nor can they well otherwiſe know of certaintie, vvhether the members of the Church be preſent or abſent, at their publike meetings, for the vvorship of God, or other dueties there to be performed, that ſo they may watch over them, as thoſe that muſt giuegive account for them unto God. Act. 20.28. Heb. 13.17. 1 Pet. 5.1 — 4.
V. Neither can the Churches, or members thereof, be ſo well inſtructed, governed, and edified, in faith and mutuall louelove, as if this order and practiſe be obſerved. For which ſee alſo the Scriptures aforeſaid, and the like.
But if the church in any city be more large (as often commeth to paſſe, and is uſuall in great cities) then that it can conveniently and ordinarily meet together in one place: then is it to be conſidered, whether it should not be diſtinguished and diſtributed into divers particular Churches or parishes. Which may everie one of them ſeverally hauehave their owne peculiar place of meeting together; their owne Paſtour, & other miniſters, Elders, and Deacons, their ovvn meetings, and all publick actions duly & orderly performed, among themſelues, for the reaſons here before alledged, and other the like. To vvhichwhich end may alſo be obſerved, hovv at Ieruſalem (vvhere the great Synedrion of the Iewes was by the Lord appointed to be, yet notvvithſtanding) there vvere, in that one city many Synagogues. And all the Synagogues alſo had their ovvn rulers & miniſters, as may appeare by ſuch other Synagogues as are particularly ſpoken of in the Scriptures. Mar. 5, 22. with Luke 4, 16, 20, 31, 33. and 12, 11. and 21 12. with Mat. 10, 17. and 23, 34, Luke 13, 14. vvith Act. 13, 14, 15. and 18, 4, 7, 8, 17.
Here moreover (about the eſtate, and diſtinction of churches) are two things carefully to be obſerved; Firſt,As did the ſeuen churches of Aſia, &c. Rev. 1, & 2, and 3 chap. that all particular churches vvith their Paſtors (as is noted here before) do ſtand immediately under Ieſus Chriſt the Archpaſtour, vvithout any other ſtraunge eccleſiaſtical power and authoritie interpoſed betvveen, whether it be of the Prelates, (as of Dioceſan Provinciall, or Oecumenicall Bishops;) or of their unlawfull uſurping Synods, or any ſuch like, invented by men, and brought into the church: Secondly, that notwithſtanding the eſtate & diſtinction aforeſaid, yet, all the churches, and miniſters of them, should be alway ready and vvilling, with their mutuall ayde, counſel, aſſiſtance and all lawfull maanes, to help, comfort, adviſe, ſtrengthen, and build up one another, in the truth vvhichwhich is according to godlines, in Ieſus Chriſt. Epheſ. 4.4 — 16. Rom. 12, 3 — 8. 1 Cor. 12, 4 — 27. Col. 2, 5, 19. and 4, 16, 17. Act. 15, 2 — 23. with Pſal. 12 2, 3. Sal. Song. 8, 1. &c..
And ſo to this end, and in this manner, may be had a lavvfull and profitable uſe of Synods, Claſſes, Aſſemblies, or Councels, for mutual help & adviſe, in caſes of queſtion, controverſie, and difficulties about religion: to as alvvaies it be provided, that they doe not challenge or uſurpe any unlavvfull juriſdiction or power over the particular churches, or their paſtours and governours, to whom their ovvn povver, under Chriſt the Lord, is alvvay to be reſerved, and to be kept whole and intier, according to the vvord of God. Like as may be ſeen in all the churches planted by the Apoſtles: and particularly in thoſe ſeuen of Aſia (ſtanding not farre aſunder:) to whom Chriſt vvrote his ſeveral letters, directed to the Angels or Paſtors of everie of them in particular: and not to any one of the churches or Paſtors more thē another, as having authoritie over the reſt; nor to any Dioceſan Provinciall or Oecumeniall Bishops ſet over the churches and Paſtors thereof. Which kind of Prelacie, Office & government, if it had ben ordeyned by Chriſt, and planted by the Apoſtles in thoſe churches: there had novv ben fit and neceſſarie occaſion (ſpecially when Chriſt vvrote about the corruptions of thoſe churches) both to hauehave blamed thoſe Bishops for neglect of their duetie (as he doth the Angels of the particular Churches) and to hauehave directed his letters unto them, as being the next & chiefeſt in eccleſiaſticall authoritie under him, to overſee and governe thoſe churches: if then there had ben any ſuch among them, by the ordinance of Chriſt. Rev. 2, 1.8.12 18. and 3 1.7 14. compared vvith ch. 1.4.12.13.20. and vvith the eſtate and conſtitution of all other churches planted by the Apoſtles. For vvhichwhich, ſee the Scriptures here be… alledged: pag. 250. And of this alſo ſee more hereafter in the fift … here follovving,
If any aske, to whom then the churches shalbe ſubject, if there be no Dioceſan or other like Prelates ſet over them: I anſwer, that the churches and all the Officers & members thereof, are to be ſubject to the Princes, States, and magiſtrates, under whom they liue: according as the Apoſtles doe teach us, ſaying, Let every ſoul be ſubject to the higher powers; &c. Re…. 13.1. Submit your ſelues to every ordinance of man for the Lords ſake, whether it be to the king, as ſupreme, or unto governours, as unto them that are ſent by him, for the puniſhment of evill doers, and for the praiſe of them that doe vvell. 1 Pet. 2, 13, 14. vvith Tit. 3, 1. The magiſtrates are under the Lord to be the keepers of both the Tables of the Law of God: To whom al perſons ought to be ſubject, euen for conſcience ſake, & to yeeld obedience unto them: yet alwaies in the Lord, and not againſt the Lord by any meanes. Deut. 17, 18, 19, 20, Rom. 13, 1 — 7. with Mat. 22, 21. Dan. 3, 14 — 18. Act. 4, 18, 19, 20. Rev. 12, 10, 11.