Of National Churches, Chapter 11
Chap. XI. Whether a National Church Soveraignty infer the need or lawfulneſs of a Humane Univerſal Church Soveraignty.
§ 1. Anſ. NO: For, 1. Man is capable of one, but uncapable of the other.
2. Chriſt hath given Commiſſion for one, but not for the other.
3. Every Kingdom hath one Humane Soveraignty in Sword Government: But ſo hath not all the World one. And there is leſs reaſon for, and leſs poſſibility of one Humane Governing Soveraignty by the Word and Keys.
4. God ſet one Moſes, and one Aaron or Prieſthood over Iſrael; but not over all the World. If Adam or Noah was ſuch while the World was but a Family, or Tribe, he would not have it ſo when it was uncapable of it.
5. The Summons and Subſcriptions, and the Limits of the Imperial Power tell us that the moſt General Councils were but Imperial, that is, National in Extent (as I have proved againſt Johnſon.) And therefore no more can be claimed ſince.
§ 2. Obj. But if a Presbyter muſt be Ordained by a Biſhop as Superior, and a Biſhop by an Archbiſhop, and he by a Patriarch, what Superior ſhall make him but a Pope or Council?
Anſ. 1. You may next ask, Who then muſt Make or Conſecrate a Pope? Is it a Superior? Contrarily, If a Pope may be made by Inferiors (as they do) a Patriarch, a Metropolitan, an Archbiſhop and a Biſhop may quoad eſſe be validly made by Men of the ſame Order. Yea and Presbyters too where Politick Order and Church ſafety forbid it not.
§ 3. It is ſo far from being true (as I once fooliſhly thought) that National Church Supremacy inferreth Popery, that it is a neceſſary or very great means againſt it, without which (though particular Souls may be ſaved from Popery) a Nation cannot long, nor ever was that I have read of. For Popery is but the Invading of the power of all other Biſhops and Kings: And for each one to reaſſume his own power, is the direct Depoſing of the Pope. As if one King or Senate claimed the Government of all Kings and Senates, how ſhould theſe Uſurpers be Depoſed but by every King and Parliaments reaſſuming their own?
§ 4. But then every party that differeth in the Form of National Government, muſt not pretend that it is only their Form, that is the Bulwark againſt Popery. National Church Concord and Strength may be kept up by a Supreme Chriſtian Prince or State with a Concordant Miniſtry, whether among themſelves United as the Scots in General Aſſemblies, or as in England by Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Convocations, obeying the Laws of Chriſt, and the juſt Laws of the King and State that are made for determining needful Circumſtances; ſuppoſing ſuch Biſhops qualified and choſen juſtly, and uſurping none of the Swordbearers power.
§ 5. That National Laws about matters of Religion may and muſt be made, and that Princes conſulting with Paſtors muſt make them, and that theſe are not to extend to all the World, is a truth unqueſtionable.
In England the Law muſt command us to uſe Engliſh Bibles, but not all over the World. It is meet to bind the Churches to uſe one Tranſlation of the Scriptures. Elſe one will ſay, Your Text or what you alledge is not in my Bible, and another, It is not in mine. And many inconveniences would follow. And one Form of Catechiſm, one Form of Confeſſion, one Metre of ſinging Pſalms, and about the Sacraments and other Offices one Form moderately impoſed or agreed on is convenient. But if one part will too rigorouſly impoſe things needleſs, or command things ſinful, or juſtly ſuſpected; or the other ſide refuſe things lawful and fit becauſe impoſed, National Concord will be broken.