Church Concord, Chapter 9
Chap. IX. Difference VII.
THE seventh Difference is, about the Power of a particular Church to exercise all Government and Church Ordinances within it self, without Subordination to Synods or any other as extrinsick Ecclesiastical Superiour Governours.
This is Pleaded for by the Independents in ordinary cases (whence Mr. Cotton owns the Name of Independency, Keys, P. 29. 53.) saith he, [A Church of a particular Congregation, consisting of Elders and Brethren, and walking in the Truth and Peace of the Gospel, as it is the first subject of all Church Power, needful to be exercised within it self; So it is Independent upon any other (Church or Synod) for the exercising of the same]. Some of the Episcopal and Presbyterians deny them this, and affirm, that Synods are a Superiour Power, and that particular Congregations without the lower sort of Synods called Classes may not Excommunicate, and that in an ordinary Regimental order, Congregations are under the Government of Synods (and consequently say the Episcopal, of the Heads of those Synods). But the more moderate both Episcopal and Presbyterians hold that Synods oblige directly but gratia Unitatis & Communionis Ecclesiarum, and not directly by a Superiour Governing Power. So Bishop Usher profest his Judgment to me: and that a particular Bishop or Church was not subject to a Synod as their Superiour Governour, but bound in lawful things to consent for Unity and Communion. And Mr. Cotton granteth, for ought I see, as much, if not more than this comes to; and Mr. T. Goodwin and Mr. Nye, I think as much in their Preface to his Book, saith Mr. Cotton, p. 53. [A fourth Corollary touching the Independency of Churches is, That a Church fallen into any offence (whether it be the whole Church, or a strong Party in it) is not Independent in the exercise of Church Power, but is subject both to the admonition of any other Church, and to the Determination and Iudicial Sentence of a Synod, for Direction into a way of Truth and Peace] [For (saith he) Ecclesia litigans non ligat, that is, if Christ hath not given to a particular Church a Promise to bind and loose in Heaven, what they bind and loose on Earth, unless they agree together, and agree in his Name, then such a Church is not Independent in their Proceedings, as do fail in either: For all the Independency that can be claimed is founded upon that Promise, What ye bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, &c.] The fifth Corollary affirmeth, that [Though the Church of a particular Congregation consisting of Elders and Brethren, and walking with a right foot in the Truth and Peace of the Gospel, be the first subject of all Church Power needful to be exercised within it self, and consequently be Independent from any other Church or Synod in the use of it; Yet it is a safe and wholesom and holy Ordinance of Christ, for such particular Churches to joyn together in holy Covenant or Communion, and Consolation (Consociation or Consultation it should be) amongst themselves, to administer all their Church Affairs (which are of weighty and difficult and common concernment) not without common Consultation and Consent of other Churches about them. Now Church Affairs of weighty and difficult and common concernment, we account to be, the Election and Ordination of Elders, Excommunication of an Elder, or any person of Publick Note, and Employment; the translation of an Elder from one Church to another, or the like. In which case we conceive it safe and wholesom, and an Holy Ordinance, to proceed with common consultation and consent.] And so he proceedeth distinctly to prove this, 1. Safe. 2. Wholsom. 3. An Ordinance, adding this Caution, which we accept. [To see that this Consociation of Churches be not perverted, either to the oppression or diminution of the just Liberty and Authority of each particular Church within it self: who being well supplied with a faithful and expert Presbytery of their own, do walk in their integrity, according to the Truth and Peace of the Gospel. Let Synods have their just Authority in all Churches, how pure soever▪ in determining such foreign as are requisite for the Edification of all Christ's Churches according to God. But in the Election and Ordination of Officers, and censure of Offenders, let it suffice the Churches consociate to assist one another, with their counsel and right han… of fellowship, when they see a particular Church to use their Liberty an… Power aright. But let them not put forth the Power of their Community… either to take such Church Acts out of their hands, or to hinder them in the… lawful course, unless they see them (through ignorance or weakness) to abu… their Liberty or Authority in the Gospel—They may indeed prevent the abu… of their Liberties, and direct in the lawful use of them, but not take the… away, though themselves should be willing] So also before, Pag. 47. he sai… [4th Propos. In case a particular Church be disturbed with Errour or Scanda… and the same maintained by a Faction amongst them: Now a Synod … Churches, or of their Messengers, is the first Subject of that Power and A… thority whereby Errour is judicially convinced and condemned, the trut… searched out and determined, and the way of Truth and Peace declared, an… Imposed upon the Churches] which he proceeds to prove.
And Dr. Goodwin and Mr. Nye in their Preface approving of this, sayin… that these Synods have [a due measure of Power committed to them, suite and proportioned to those, and are furnished, not only with ability to giv… counsel and advice, but further, upon such occasions with a Ministerial Pow… and Authority, to determine, declare and enjoyn such things as may tend to th… reducing such Congregations to right order and peace.]
And whereas they put it in as a caution, that yet Synods may not Exco… municate, I answer, that as long as they grant that they may renounce Communion with such a Church, and Doctrinally apply to them their Portion, an… Doctrinally enjoyn the people to avoid the impenitent Offenders (by applyin… the Scriptures to them that enjoyn it) we have no mind to disagree wit… them about the rest.
I conclude therefore, that we are Dogmatically agreed in this great Poin… as far as is necessary to our Loving Communion. Let us in our Consociation… either keep our Principles to our selves, of the degree of a Synods Power, … else let all have Liberty to write them down in the Register Book of the Syno… and so to proceed in Concordant Practice. Perhaps some may be found th… think Synods are the proper Superiour Governours of the Pastors of particul… Churches, yea, and their Ordinary Governours: Others may think that the… are not necessary, nor any Ordinance of God; but yet a lawful thing that ma… for Peace be used. And others (that I think are in the truth) may think th… Synods are not the direct Governours of the particular Pastors, but are God… Ordinance for the Communion of Churches, and so indirectly bind in lawf… Agreements, both as our own Consents oblige us, and as God's general Co… mand of doing all things in Unity and Peace and Concord, doth animate the… Agreements. Let us impose none of our Principles here on others; but Agr… to hold Communion in Synods, for mutual Edification, and Corroboration, a… such like ends of Communion as Mr. Cotton mentioneth; and to be accou… table to the Brethren in cases of offence, so far as to tender them due satisfactio… and hear their Brotherly Admonitions; In a word, let us but maintain th… necessary Communion of Churches which the Ends and Nature of the Church require, and we shall press no more.
Obj. But, being free, why should we desire to be bound, in Associations?
Answ. You are not free from brotherly Charity, & the Communion of Saints, and the Concordant doing the Works of God, of common Concernment. Nor do we desire you to bind your selves to any thing but what is antecedently your Duty, and you're already bound to by God.
Object. But perhaps if we associate with you, you will be rigid for your own ways and be the Major part, and then if we displease you, our Communion shall be rejected to our disgrace.]
Ans. 1. The Churches can pass as disgraceful a Sentence on you, if you come not near them, as if you joyned with them. Yea, and they will no doubt take it to be their Duty, if they have proof of the Heresies or Scandals of any Neighbour Minister, (aggravated by the shunning of their Brethrens Communion), to disown them, and warn their people of the danger. If you joyn with us, you are more like to escape such Censures or injurious Reflections, than by keeping from us: For familiarity kindleth Love: and your presence may awe many, and your words satisfie those that could not be so well satisfied, if they had not heard you speaking for your selves.
2. Moreover, you have opportunity to prevent such abuse as you fear, in your terms of entring the Association.
3. Surely Brethren that so earnestly desire your Communion for the Churches Peace, will not be hasty to renounce Communion with you.
4. By their Accepting you, they are engaged not to Reject you, for any Opinion or Practice which they knew you guilty of when they Accepted you: For if it were not of weight to hinder your Reception, it may not be of weight to cause your Rejection.
Obj. But under the Name of a Communion of Churches, you seem to set up a Provincial Church, with a Discipline of taking in and casting out.
Ans. *Nort. P. 45. Si Ecclesia Representativa sumitur pro mutua consultatione, consotiatione & confoederatione Ecclesiarum particularium in Synodis per Legatos, nova Ecclesiae forma non addita, & libertate Ecclesi… salvâ, rem agnoscimus.Is it the Name of a Church that you fear, or the Thing? Not the Name, for we use it not, nor do you charge this on us. If the Thing tells us what you mean by a Church. If such a thing as you use to define it to be, we deny that we set up such a Church. But if you will call the Officers and Delegates of the Churches, met for Communion, by the Name of a Church, you may use your Liberty: we hold this Communion for no higher ends, than your own forecited words allow: and therefore it is but such an Assembly as you may allow.
Take Mr. Norton's yet larger Concessions, Pag. 110, &c. [Ecclesiae particulares mutuam Communionem inter se inire possunt, & in eis causae Communes omnium Ecclesiarum, i. e. talis res quae omnibus Ecclesiis particularibus Communes sunt, quamvis immediatè unam tantum Ecclesiam tangunt, ut sunt Pastorum vocationes, Membrorum excommunicationes, &c. Vel etiam tales res quae immediatè omnes Ecclesias ex aequo tangunt communiter) Communi consensu Ecclesiarum dijudicentur & discernantur]—Pag. 111. [Solummodò inde Colligimus ei potestatem supremam decidendi quaestiones fidei debitam, quod & promptè damus—] Pag. 112. De necessitate Synodorum. Tametsi, Concilia non sint ita absolutè necessaria, ut Ecclesia sine illis nunquam bene esse possit; tamen in tantâ hominum malitia, & temporum perversitate, non tantum insigniter sunt utilia, sed etiam quodammodo necessaria: ita ut Ecclesia salutari hoc remedio non possit carere; sine insigni veritatis, pietatis & Concordiae Christianae detrimento. Nemo, inquit Parkerus, quod sciam, Ecclesiae alicujus reformatae alumnus ante Hugonem Grotium, negavit Synodos esse necessarias: quibus nos foreign libenter profitemur, sequentibus freti rationibus. 1. A Natura duce; Cujus dictamine in Controversiis difficilioribus & grandioribus à judicio inferiori ad. praecellentius confugimus. Hinc jus appellationum in causis gravioribus ab inferiori ad superiorem sententiam. Parker: Cum in causis & Personis Ecclesiasticis multae lites oriantur, jus appellationum necessariò concedendum quis neget? Appellationes sunt juris Divini, & naturalis, & in omni societate admodum necessariae, propter multorum judicum iniquitatem & ignorantiam. 2. A fine Concilii—3. Ab exemplo, &c. 4. A Praecellentia Concilii, &c. 5. A foreign Ecclesiarum; quam valde tuetur unio sententiarum in Synodis; unde foreign suavissima & diuturna, cum doctrina & mores probantur ad invicem: sin autem singulis Ecclesiis particularibus juxta sententias proprias incedere licet, nulla habita vicinarum ratione, quam facilè in partes & dissidia abiturae sunt? 6. A fructu administrationum: quae si caeteris Ecclesiis consentientibus fiant, spes est etiam fore efficaces: sin dissentientibus timendum ne inefficaces sint. E. g. in casu excommunicationis vicinis comprobantibus excommunicatus argutus ab omnibus, dijudicatus ab omnibus, procidens, &c.—Pag. 118. Quatenus particulares Ecclesiae s…se subjicere debent sententiae Synodi. R. Legitimis Synodi decretis ab omnibus Ecclesiis h. e. à majori parte Ecclesiarum receptis, & à Magistratu Christiano approbatis, tenentur particulares Ecclesiae acquiescere, 1. Sub periculo reatus ordinis publici turbati. 2. Sub poena non Communionis cum aliis Ecclesiis. 3. Sub poena correctionis per poenas civiles à Magistratu.
Then he comes to the Q. What if the Synod conclude against the Truth, and the Church stand for it? And answereth, 1. That it's not easily to be supposed in reformed times, And 2. Uti in Civilibus, est Veritas absoluta & Iudicialis: & sententia supremi judicis vera est quoad homines, licet non sit vera absolutè: Ita in Ecclesiasticis Veritas est absoluta & Synodalis: Synodus autem cum sit supremus judex quaestionis, sententi… Synodalis licet non sit vera▪ absolutè, est tamen vera Ecclesiasticè: Si in foro exteriore.—Pag. 119. Statuendum est ordinem publicum prae…erendum esse praesenti obedientiae ergo praeceptum affirmativum, non fundamentale.—Hîc obtinet illud (Ames.) Gravissima in▪commoda fac…unt aliquando ut praeceptum affirmativum desinat obligare, quod aliàs non possit non observari sine peccato. Ordini igitur tali… Ecclesia in hoc casu sese subjicere & potest & debet: sed tamen sine peccato.]—
Is not here enough for our Agreement in this Point? I should have feared Censures if I had said as much.
But I hope you deny not the Power of Christian Kings, nor that a Christian Soveraign and Christian Subjects are a Christian Kingdom, and de nomine may be called a National Church. And Moses, David, Solomon, Iosiah, had a Governing Power over the Priests, though not to change the species of their Office. And if I and others think that Apostles and Evangelists have Successors to the End of the World in the ordinary parts of their Office, and in Superiority you may with Peace hold your Opinion and leave us to ours: Of which elsewhere.