Of National Churches, Chapter 3
Chap. III. In the Execution, Judea was ſuch a Church.
§ 1. IN the Execution of his Inſtitution, Chriſt in the time of Conſtantine, and after, made Judea it ſelf a National Church as far as a Province of the Empire may be called a Nation. The Empire, as Chriſtian, headed by one Chriſtian Soveraign, and materiated by Chriſtian Subjects obeying Chriſt both ſingly and in ſacred Aſſemblies under their Biſhops or Elders, was all one National Church, that is, One Chriſtian Kingdom, long before promiſed by Chriſt, and prepared for: But as the Emperors allowed ſome Provinces to have ſubject tributary Kings, and others to enjoy moſt of their Antient Laws and Liberties, ſo they might ſecundum quid be called Kingdoms and National Churches, though they were but Provinces and parts of the Imperial Church. And thus Judea became a National Church.
§ 2. It is paſt queſtion that many Kings who had given up their Kingdom to the Pagan Beaſt, followed the ſucceſs of Conſtantine, and afterward did give up their Power to Chriſt, yet no Kingdom was wholly converted at once, nor of many years: But yet while the Soveraign Power and Confederate Chriſtian Paſtors and Subjects had the chief Power, it was truly a Chriſtian Kingdom: For the Form in capable matter doth denominate.
And tho' many Heathens were long permitted in Government, that doth but prove that the Kingdom had two ſorts of free Subjects; one ſort that were Chriſtians, and ſo were the chief Members, who in all matters of Religion were exempted from Pagan Judicatures; and the other Heathens who had a freedom in things ſecular.
§ 3. Judea then was more eminently Chriſtian than any other Nation of no greater extent: There were Arch Biſhops, and Biſhops, and Presbyters, and after a Patriarch: And there were more Monaſteries and Religious Societies, and more Temples built there, than in any Countrey that was no greater: And more Chriſtians flockt thither from other Nations out of a veneration for the place: And indeed it was the Mother-Church out of which all other Churches ſprang: Therefore if any Province might be called a National Church, it was Judea.
§ 4. This was when the Fulneſs of the Gentiles came in; that is, when the Gentile Empire turned Chriſtian: And ſo the Gentile Powers turned Chriſtian, provoked the Jews to emulation, and requited them by becoming Nurſing Fathers to them, and bringing their Glory to Jeruſalem: And ſo all Iſrael was ſaved; that is, the body of Abraham's natural Seed, and alſo the faithful Gentiles that were the ſpiritual Seed, were unitedly gathered to Chriſt.
§ 5. Obj. But they were moſtly Gentiles that then dwelt there: And that proveth no Converſion of the Jews.
Anſ. The ſcattered Jews were in many Countreys of the Roman Empire: And moſt of them had neither mind nor means to return to a ſmall and barren Land: But as many as were willing and were zealous for their Countrey did live there, and none were forbidden: And it is far moſt probable that the moſt that were there left, were ſuch as kept their old Habitations: And the moſt that were kill'd were the military part: In the days of Conſtantine, and after their Churches flouriſhed: And what greater encouragement could they have now to return, were they converted, than they had? None would make them go againſt their wills: If Gentile, Chriſtians and Jews were there mixt, they did the more fitly ſuit a Catholick Church-ſtate; when Moſes Policy and their Peculiarity ceaſed.
Should they in the feigned Fifth Monarchy-ſtate, be confined to that Countrey, which is like our Wales, how contemptible a Nation would they be, in compariſon of what Conſtantine allowed them, both in Judea, and throughout all the Empire? No Nation was wholly converted at the firſt; and if the Chriſtian Jews that loſt their name, being Catholicks, had no great mind to go to Judea, it is no wonder.