Certain Observations, Section 12
SECTION. XII.
SAtan hath many deviſes to bring in errours amongſt men to be entertained, he changeth himſelfe into an Angell of light, comes in the name of Chriſt, Mat. 24, in the name of his beſt ſervants, 2 Theſſ. 2, and of the Church: he comes under pretence of glorious ends, to bring in deviſes of men. Wherfore that we be not deceived by him, it ſhall not be amiſſe to ſpeak ſomething of the Churches authority, and what power it hath. Herein I propound ſome grounds.
1 That all the authority of the Church is rather in the Word and Ordinances of God, then in their perſons; ſo as without the Word and Ordinances the perſons are of no force. The power is in the Word, not in the Miniſter; in Excommunication, not in the perſon that adminiſters it.
2 The authority of the Church, though it may be uſurped, yet it cannot rightly be tranſlated unto other officers, then Chriſt hath committed it to.
3 The Churches authority is but miniſteriall; all ſhe doth, or can doe, is as a ſervant to Chriſt her husband, whoſe properly the keyes are, Rev. 1.
4 All authority is to the edification and profit of the Church; none hath authority to hurt it, or lay ſtūbling blocks before any.
5 All her authority in the uſe of every thing, is limited by the Word, which is her charter and leaſe.
Hence it may appear what authority ſhe hath, and what ſhe hath not. What ſhe hath I deſcribe in theſe Propoſitions following.
1 The Church may reade, interpret and publiſh the Scriptures of God.
2 The Church by the Scriptures may binde and looſe, both in the Miniſtry of the Word, Mat. 16, and Diſcipline, Math. 18, over all that are of the congregation.
3 The church hath authority to uſe aright, all the creatures and Ordinances of God; all things be hers, 1 Cor. 3.
4 The church hath authority from the generals of the Word, and the light of Nature, to appoint things for the decent and orderly adminiſtration of the holy things of God, 1 Cor. 11, & 14.
5 The church hath authority to decree for the avoiding of offence, the forbearing or uſing of any thing indifferent: for this is but the commandement of God which the church manifeſteth.
6 The church hath authority over the members to diſpoſe of them for the good of other places.
1 Churches hauehave no authority to teach any new doctrine, but are bound to the Law and Teſtimony, Iſa. 8, Deut. 4.
2 The Church hath no authority to teach by any way, but onelyonly by the Word, and thoſe rites which Chriſt hath left; by which he ſpeaks: Math. 15, the Phariſies are reproved, becauſe they invented waſhing of hands to teach purity by.
3 The church hath no authority to appoint any new Sacraments, Math. 28, 1 Cor. 11.
4 The church hath no authority to joyn any thing ſhe ordaines to the holy things, as parts of Gods worſhip, abſolutely neceſſary; or as means to explicate any thing that ſeems more obſcure in the ſervice of God. The firſt is plain, Eſay 33, formerly proved: the ſecond is as plain, ſince Gods own worſhip is his face: ſecondly, men that hauehave and exerciſe the gifts of the Spirit, ſhall ſufficiently clear all and manifeſt it to the underſtanding, and conſcience.
5 The church hath no authority to inſtitute a new Diſcipline, this is plainly proved in an other place.
6 The church hath no authority to inſtitute ceremonies or rites. 1 Which are not decent, and fitting the nature and quality of that preſent ordinance of God. 2 Orderly, as firſt, that each thing be done in his due place; publique things, publiquely; private things privately: ſecondly, things more execellent and neceſſary to be reſpected in the firſt place. 3 That things be done by publique perſons that be publique. 4 For Edification to build up in the graces of God, loathing of Antichriſt, wherto the church is bound in a ſpeciall manner, in theſe laſt times of the world.
7 The Church hath no authority coactiue, but perſwaſiue, Act. 15, 1 Pet. 5.
8 The churches authority, and commanding of a thing doth not make it ſimply good, nor ſimply binds, but onelyonly ad foreign, if there be no ſcandall, nor contempt, it is no ſin to break the ſame. 1 The nature of things cannot be changed by any humane laws. 2 Paul, after the Decrees, Acts 15, taught, that it was not ſimply unlawfull to eat any meat.
9 One company of men aſſembled hauehave no authority to impoſe things upon many churches: 1 Becauſe none now hath Apoſtolicall authority: 2 Each congregation is a body independant of any Eccleſiaſticall power.
10 The Church is bound by the law of louelove from uſing ſuch things as are offenſiue, being otherwiſe in her power and liberty, 1 Cor. 8.
Whether they may be a Church that ſtand ſubject to Antichriſts Government?
Anſw. 1 If they diſſent in judgment, and diſlike in affection.
2 If they hunger after all meanes to hauehave true Diſcipline, Mat. 5.
3 If they profeſſe and witneſſe, as they are called, againſt this falſe government.
4 If men exerciſe a holy Diſcipline amongſt themſelues in admoniſhing and exhorting one an other.
5 If they perforce and by compulſion yeeld to ſuffer ſuch as uſurp Eccleſiaſticall government, under pretence of his Majeſties laws.
Theſe things in truth where they are, argue and proue men to be members of the true catholike church. 1 A promiſe of life is made to ſuch, Math. 10, & Math. 5. 2 Others ſin in uſurping over them defiles not them. 3 It is a kinde of diſcipline to the true church ſuffering for diſcipline, God bleſſing it to his people. 4 The church of God in times of Popery wanted this outward form. 5 This outward form is neceſſary to the wel-being of a reformed church, not to the being ſimply of Chriſtians, for ſubjection of the whole man to the laws of God, properly make a Chriſtian.
Yet leſt men ſhould imagine they are well enough that lack this: and ſecondly, leſt ſome ſhould think we plead for Baal. Therfore obſerue that the people, and congregations that want this outward government are in great miſery in the outward man, and are wonderfully blemiſhed.
1 He that breaketh the leaſt of Gods commandements, and teach men ſo, ſhall be called the leaſt, that is, none in the Kingdom of God, Mat. 5.
2 The government of Chriſt rightly adminiſtred, is a meanes to keep out Satan from raigning, it walles in the Church, the want of it makes the people expoſed to every danger, and looſeth many a ſoule.
3 One Ordinance of God wanting, and another ſtrange deviſe of man brought in the roome therof, brings other Ordinances of God out of requeſt, and in time expells them.
4 Men though they want diſcipline, yet they are bound to perform ſuch duties, the more in private one towards an other.