Of National Churches, Chapter 2
Chap. II. That Chriſt inſtituted ſuch a Church-Form.
§ 1. THat Chriſt inſtituted ſuch a Kingdom or National Church, I prove as followeth.
1. He was by the Prophets ſtill deſcribed as ſuch before his coming, as was to be the King of Iſrael, and Iſrael under him a National Church.
Moſes was King in Jeſurun, Deut, 33. 5. and ſaid, A Prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up to you like to me, viz. that was a Prophet and King. Melchizedeck was the Type of Chriſt that was King of Salem, and Prieſt, Pſal. 110. Heb. 8. David was herein a Type of Chriſt, and Chriſt was promiſed to ſit on his Throne, Pſal. 2. 6. Yet have I ſet my King on my holy Hill of Sion, Ezek. 37. 24. David my Servant ſhall be King over them, and they ſhall all have one Shepherd, &c. My Servant David ſhall be their Prince for ever. So v. 27, 28. ſo Hoſ. 3. 5. Exod. 19. 6. Ye ſhall be to me a Kingdom of Prieſts, Dan. 2. 44. Mark 11. 10. Pſal. 33. 12. Bleſſed is the Nation whoſe God is the Lord.
2. Chriſt is proclaimed the King of the Jews, and claimed that title and their ſubjection to him, Matth. 2. 2. & 27. 11. Mark 15. 2. He was of the Line of David, and had right to his Kingdom. He was ſcorned and crucified for that claim, Mat. 27. 29, 37. Mark 15. 9, 12, 18, 26. Luke 23. 37. John 19. 21. The People acknowledged him King by their Hoſanna. He deſtroyeth them as Enemies that would not he ſhould Reign over them, Luke 19. 14, 27.
3. He laid the Foundation of his offered National Kingdom among them: He owned the Title, and choſe twelve Apoſtles in relation to the twelve Tribes; and the ſeventy Diſciples related to their great Council: He would Preach to none but Iſrael, till they rejected him: He would have gathered all Jeruſalem and her Children as the Hen gathereth her Chickens; but they would not, Mat. 23. 37. He deſtroyed them for refuſing him.
4. He commiſſioned his Apoſtles to ſtay at Jeruſalem till they rejected them. They made up the broken number of twelve as related to the twelve Tribes by Matthias, though Joſes and others had alſo followed Chriſt.
5. He appointed them to Preach the Goſpel to Nations, and to diſciple Nations, Mat. 28. Mark 16.
6. He planted the Gentiles into the ſame Olive-tree that the Jews were broken off from, Rom. 11.
7. The Jews had not been broken off from their National Church-ſtate, but for unbelief, Rom. 11.
8. He tranſlated the Kingdom from them, to a Nation that would bring forth the fruits of it.
9. In due time the Kingdoms of the World were made the Ringdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11. & 19.
10. Kings are to be the Churches Nurſing Fathers.
11. All Power in Heaven and Earth is given to Chriſt, Mat. 28. and by him Kings Reign. He is King of Kings, and not of ſingle perſons only.
12. But what need there any other proof, while all Chriſtians confeſs that All Kings are bound to be Chriſtian Kings, and to promote Chriſtianity to their Power; and all Magiſtrates and Subjects to be Chriſtians: And are not they then bound to be Chriſtian Kingdoms; and that is National Churches?
§ 2. When he had prepared them to be voluntary Subjects, by the Preaching of the Goſpel, and the Church came to maturity, Chriſt actually ſet up National Kingdom-Churches; and Ruled by Conſtantine & ſucceſſive Chriſtian Princes: And Heaven and Earth rejoyced that he had taken to him his great Power and Reigned, and that the Kingdoms of the World were become his Kingdoms, Rev. 17. & 18. & 19. Infancy is fitter for Inſtruction than to Govern. Man is made to uſe Reaſon; but he uſeth little in Infancy, or till maturity. That which was firſt in intention, is laſt in execution. Mature Reaſon in Man, and Princely Government in Kingdom-Churches, was firſt in intention, tho' not in execution. Who would wiſh that Pagans had ſtill Reigned? What Chriſtian wiſheth not that the Perſians, Indians, Turks, Tartars, &c. were all Chriſtian Kingdoms? Why elſe do the Millennies hope for ſuch a ſtate of holy Government?
§ 3. Obj. But tho' there be no doubt of the command, inſtitution and duty, what hope have we of the conſtitution, and event that Kingdoms ſhould become Chriſtian?
Anſ. Our Queſtion is of the Inſtitution and Duty: confeſs that, and let us do our endeavour.
2. Is not this a Chriſtian Kingdom, while King and Subjects are baptized profeſſed Chriſtians? Are we a Proteſtant Kingdom, and not a Chriſtian Kingdom? And are not others ſuch?
Obj. But theſe be moſtly but nominal Hypocrite Chriſtians.
Anſ. They are viſible profeſſed Chriſtians. The Corn is not without Straw and Chaff. Do you look for Kingdoms that conſiſt only of the ſincere?
Obj. But Churches muſt conſiſt only of thoſe that ſeem ſincere.
Anſ. All ſeem ſincere that profeſs ſincerity, till it be by tryal and witneſs publickly diſproved. There are ſeveral degrees of ſeeming; ſome by fuller evidences than others; but all that Vow it, and ſtand to that Vow, do ſeem and profeſs it till diſproved.
Obj. But how prove you that a Chriſtian Kingdom is a Church?
Anſ. Doth your Queſtion mean de Re, or de Nomine? I told you what I mean by a Church, no other than a Chriſtian Kingdom conſiſting of a Chriſtian Soveraign, and Chriſtian Subjects, worſhiping God in confederate particular Churches (ordinarily) will you deny the Being or the Duty of ſuch?
If it be the Name, 1. The word Eccleſia is uſed for even common Aſſemblies, and therefore much more for Chriſtian Societies.
2. The Iſraelites were called The Church in the Wilderneſs; much more when more fully ſtabliſhed.
3. If you have any reaſon againſt the Name, diſprove it.
4. If the Name be all the difference, call it as you pleaſe.
But make it not your pretence that only Prieſts are perſons Holy enough to be Heads of Churches, and not Kings; and therefore that it is no National Church that hath not a Clergy Head, Monarchical or Ariſtocratical; for that's the Popiſh Doctrine which I have confuted.