A Treatise of Episcopacy, Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. That the primitive Epiſcopal Churches of the Holy Ghoſts Inſtitution, were but ſuch Congregations as afore deſcribed.
THeſe following particulars ſet together, I think will by the Impartial be taken for full proof.
1. In all the New Teſtament, where ever there were more ſtated ſocieties than one, for publick worſhip as afore deſcribed, they are called [Churches] in the Plural Number, and never once [a Church] in the Singular Number; except when the Univerſal Church is mentioned which containeth them all. This is viſible in Act. 9. 31. and 14. 41. and 16. 5. Rom. 16. 4, and 16. 1 Cor. 7. 17. and 11. 16. and 14. 33, 34. (unleſs that mean the ſeveral meetings of the ſame Aſſembly at ſeveral times) and 16. 1, 19. 2 Cor. 8. 1, 18, 19, 23, 24. and 11. 8, 28. Gal. 1. 22. 1 Theſſ. 2. 14. 2 Theſſ. 1. 4. Rev. 1. 4, 11, 20. and 2. 7, 11, 17, 29. and 3. 6, 13, 22, 23. and 22. 16.
If any ſay, how prove you that all theſe were but ſingle Congregations, I anſwer, 1. It is granted me by all that theſe plural terms [Churches] included many ſingle Congregations. 2. I ſhall prove anon that the moſt of the particular Churches named in Scripture were but ſuch Congregations. 3. And no man can give me any proof that a Society conſiſting of divers ſuch Congregations is any where called [a Church] ſingularly: And therefore we are not to believe that the plural term meaneth many ſuch ſingulars, as are no where ſingularly named.
2. Particular Churches are deſcribed ſo in Scripture as fully proveth my aforeſaid limitation and deſcription. As 1 Cor. 11. 16, 18, 20, 22. When ye come together in the Church I hear that there be diviſions among you. A Church conſiſted of ſuch as came together.
When ye come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lords Supper. And it is the Aſſemblies that are called Churches, when he ſaith [We have no ſuch cuſtom, nor the Churches of God.]
So 1 Cor. 14. 4. He that propheſieth edifieth the Church] that is, the Aſſembly that heareth him, and not many hundred ſuch Aſſemblies that are out of hearing.
Verſ. 5. Except he interpret that the Church may receive edifying.
Verſ. 12. Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church.
Object. May not the whole Church be edified per partes? Anſ. Yes, but it muſt be per plures vel diverſis vicibus. Not at once by the ſame man, if the far greateſt part of the Church be abſent.
Obj. But is not the whole man edified (naturally or morally) by the edification of a part? Anſw. Yes, if it be a noble part: Becauſe the whole man being naturally One, by the unity of the ſoul or form, there is a natural Communion and Communication from part to part: But one Corporation in a Kingdom, may be edified or enriched without the wealth or edification of the reſt. And this Text plainly ſpeaketh of Immediate Edification of that Church that heareth, and this at once, and by one ſpeaker.
So Verſ. 19. In the Church I had rather ſpeak one word with my underſtanding, that I may teach others. Here the Church is plainly taken for the Aſſembly.
Verſ. 23. If therefore the whole Church be come together in one place, and ſpeak with tongues,] what can be more expreſly ſpoken to ſhew that it is not only a part of the Church, but the whole which cometh together into one place.
So Verſ. 24. If there be no Interpreter let him keep ſilence in the Church.]
So Verſ. 34. For God is not the Author of Confuſion, but of Peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints.
So Verſ. 14. Let your women keep ſilence in the Church, for it is a ſhame for women to ſpeak in the Church.
So Act. 11. 26. A whole year they aſſembled themſelves with the Church, and taught much people.
Act. 14. 27. When they were come, and had gathered the Church together, they rehearſed all that God had done by them.
Act. 15. 3. And they were brought on their way by the Church,] which muſt ſignifie ſuch a number as might be called the Church, when part was but for the whole, at leaſt.
Act. 2. 1. They were all with one accord in one place; which it's like was all the Church with the Apoſtles.
Verſ. 44. 46. And all that believed were together, And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, &c.
Act. 4. 31, 32. And the place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled together. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one ſoul.
Act. 5. 12. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch, and of the reſt durſt no man joyn himſelf to them.
If any here ſay that ſo many thouſands could not be of one Aſſembly, I have anſwered it before. 1. I have preached (as was ſuppoſed) to ten thouſand at once. 2. Some of our Pariſhes that have but one Church, are thirty thouſand, ſome forty thouſand, ſome fifty thouſand. 3. There were ſtrangers at Jeruſalem from all parts. 4. The next Verſe ſaith [There came alſo a multitude out of the Cities round about unto Jeruſalem.] 5. The multitude were not yet perfectly embodied, and were quickly ſcattered.
Col. 4. 16. When this Epiſtle is read among you, cauſe that it be read alſo in the Church of the Laodiceans, &c. It is not [to the Church] for then you might have ſaid that ſo it may be if the Church conſiſted of many Aſſemblies: But it is [in the Church] which intimateth that the Church was but one Aſſembly. And ſo that of Coloſſe anſwerably.
All theſe Texts and others ſuch plainly tell us whether a Church there was one Aſſembly or many hundred.
3. This is made yet much more evident, by the Scriptures deſcription of a Biſhops work; even ſuch as the Apoſtles then appointed over every Church. 1. They were to be the ordinary publick preſent teachers of all the Flock which they did overſee. 1 Theſſ. 5. 12, 13. Know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord, and eſteem them highly in love for their work ſake. Thoſe then that were over every Church, were preſent with the Church, and laboured among them (which they could not do in one of our Dioceſſes, ſaving as a man may be ſaid to labour among a Kingdom, or the World, becauſe they labour in it.)
Heb. 13. 8, 17, 24. Remember them which have the rule over you, which have ſpoken to you the word of God. Obey them that have the Rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, for they watch for your ſouls as they that muſt give account. So that a Church was no bigger than the Biſhops could ſpeak the word of God to, and could watch for their ſouls. But I never ſaw the face of the Biſhop of the Dioceſs where I live, and know but very few men in his Dioceſs that ever did ſee him.
2. And this care was to extend to the particular perſons of the Flocks. Act. 20. 20, 28, 31. I taught you publickly, and from houſe to houſe. Take heed to your ſelves, and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you Biſhops, to f…ed (or rule) the Church of God, &c. Remembor that by the ſpace of three years I ceaſed not to warn every one night and day with tears.
1 Pet. 1. 2. 3. The Elders which are among you I exhort who am alſo an Elder, feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the overſight thereof, not by conſtraint, &c. that is, ſaith Doctor Hammond [The Biſhops of your ſeveral Churches I exhort, take care of your ſeveral Churches, and govern them, not as Secular Rulers by force, but as Paſtors do their Sheep by calling and going before them, that ſo they may follow of their own accord.] See alſo Doctor Hammond's Annot. on Heb. 13. 7, 17. 1 Theſſ. 5. 12, 13. And ſaith Doctor Jeremy Taylor, of Repent. Praef. [I am ſure we cannot give account of ſouls of which we have no notice.] (O terrible word to the undertakers of ſo many hundred Churches, and ſo many thouſand or ten thouſand ſouls which they never knew!)
This made Ignatius (às after cited) ſay, that The Biſhop muſt look after or take account of each perſon as much as Servants and Maids.
Object. But there may be more in a Pariſh than a Miniſter can know. Anſw. If a Pariſh may be too large for a Biſhops work, how little reaſon have they to make a Church, and take the Paſtoral Care of many hundred Pariſhes? 2. We muſt judge by the ordinary common caſe. In a Pariſh a Miniſter may know every one, except it be ſome few ſtrangers or retired perſons, or except it be a Pariſh or Church of too great a ſwelling bigneſs: But in a Dioceſs of many hundred Churches, it is not one of a hundred that the Biſhop will ever know. 3. I know by experience what may be done, whatever ſlothful perſons ſay; I had a Pariſh of about three of four thouſand ſouls; (A Market Town with twenty Villages) and except three or four Families that refuſed to come to me, (whom yet I knew by other means) I knew not only the perſons but the meaſures of all or almoſt all their underſtandings, in the Town, and my aſſiſtants in the Villages knew the reſt, by perſonal conference, each family coming to us by turns. 4. And where a Church is too large for one, there may be and muſt be aſſiſtant Miniſters, and that may be done by many, which cannot be done by one alone.
Object. So may a Biſhop and his Presbyters in a Dioceſs. Anſw. In a Dioceſs of many Churches, the Presbyters only know the people, and do the Miniſterial Office for them, except in ſome one or few Churches where the Biſhop dwells and ſometimes preacheth: But in the ſame Church, all the Miniſters preach to the ſame perſons ordinarily, (per vices) and they all know them, and all watch over them, though they aſſiſt each other in particular offices for them. There is much difference between a School-maſter and his aſſiſtants in the ſame School, and one School-maſter only with ſeveral Uſhers in many hundred Schools. As there is between a Maſter, Miſtriſs, and Steward ruling the ſame Family, and one Maſter with Stewards ruling many hundred Families; (of which more anon.)
3. Another part of the Biſhops work in thoſe times was to Baptize: For it was part of the Apoſtles work, Matth. 28. 19, 20. And how great a work that was, to try the peoples due preparations, and to ſee that they did underſtandingly and ſeriouſly what they did, I deſire no other proof than the great care taken in all the ancient Churches of this buſineſs, which brought up the Cuſtom of baptizing but twice a year.
Object. The Apoſtles baptized three thouſand at once. Anſw. The Jews were ſuppoſed to be bred up in the knowledge of other parts of Religion, and wanted only the knowledge of the true Meſſiah, and his Salvation, which might be taught them in a ſhorter time than the Gentiles could be taught the whole ſubſtance of Religion, that knew but little: Therefore as ſoon as the Jews were convinced of the true Meſſiah and the righteouſneſs of Faith, and conſented to the Covenant, they might be baptized. 2. The extraordinary effuſions of the Spirit in that time, did make a ſhorter preparation ſufficient. At leaſt Baptizing muſt be an addition to the Biſhops work.
4. As the Apoſtles laid hands on Believers to convey the Holy Ghoſt, ſo the Prelatiſts think that the Biſhops then Confirmed Believers with Impoſition of hands, ſaith Doctor Hammond on Heb. 13. a. To teach, exhort, confirm and impoſe hands, all which were the Biſhops office in that place.] And O what a work it is to know the perſons of many hundred Pariſhes to be capable of Confirmation, and ſo to confirm them (of which more afterward.)
5. I need not prove that the Biſhops then were the Maſters of the Aſſemblies, and called them, appointing time and place, as the Rulers of the Synagogues did: which ſheweth that they were preſent with the Church Aſſemblies.
6. The Biſhops adminiſtred the Lords Supper (as all confeſs) and therefore muſt have ſome Paſtoral notice of the fitneſs of all the Church to receive it: which intimateth ſufficiently the extent of the Church.
7. They went before the Aſſemblies uſually in performance of the publick worſhip: They prayed with them, and praiſed God: And Doctor Hammond thinks that in all this in Scripture times, they had not ſo much as a Presbyter to aſſiſt them.
8. They admoniſhed the unruly and diſorderly, and received Accuſations, and openly reproved and excommunicated the Impenitent. And O, how great a work is it to deal with one Soul aright as muſt be done, before it cometh to Excommunication! Much more with all in a Pariſh. Much more in many hundred Pariſhes.
9. It is confeſſed that it was the Biſhops work to abſolve the penitent publickly. And then he muſt judge of their Repentance: and then he muſt try it: And for how many thouſand can a Biſhop do this, with the reſt?
10. The Biſhop did diſmiſs the Congregation with a Benediction (as is maintained by thoſe that we diſpute with) and therefore muſt be preſent in it.
11. They were to viſit and pray with the ſick, and all the ſick to ſend for them to that end, Jam. 4. 14. If any be ſick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him] ſaith Doctor Hammond [Becauſe there is no evidence whereby theſe (inferior Presbyters) may appear to have been brought into the Church ſo early, And becauſe the viſiting of the ſick is anciently mentioned as one branch of the office of Biſhops; therefore it may very reaſonably be reſolved, that the Biſhops of the Church, one in each particular Church, but many in the univerſal, are here meant.] Though I am far from believing him that the ſick perſon is bid to ſend but for one, when the term is plural, or that he muſt ſend for many out of other Churches, I will take his conceſſion that this was the Biſhops work.
12. Laſtly, They were to take care of the poor, and of the Contributions and Church ſtock, ſaith Doctor Hammond on 1 Cor 12. 28. The ſupreme truſt and charge was reſerved to the Apoſtles and Biſhops of the Church. So in the 41ſt. Canon of the Apoſtles, the Biſhop muſt have the care of the moneys, ſo that by his power all …e diſpenſed to the poor by the Presbyters and Deacons; and we command that …e have in his power the Church Goods. So Juſtin Martyr, Apol. 2. That which is gathered is doepoſited by the Praefect or Biſhop, and he helpeth or relieveth the Orphans and Widows, and becometh the Curator and Guardian of all abſolutely that be in want. So Ignatius to Polycarp, After the Lord thou ſhalt be the Curator of the Widows. And Polycarp himſelf ſpeaking of the Elders or Biſhops, They viſit and take care of all that are ſick, not neglecting the Widows, the Orphans and the Poor.] So far Doctor Hammond.
So that by this time it is eaſie to ſee how great the ancient Churches were; yea, and how great they were to be continued; when all this is the Biſhops Office and Work. We are willing that they have Dioceſſes as big as they can do this work in, even with a Conſeſſus of aſſiſting Presbyters. There is no one of all theſe twelve alone that a Biſhop. can do for a Dioceſs of many ſcore or hundred Churches. How much leſs all theſe ſet together? Nay, what one conſiderable Pariſh would not find a Biſhop with divers aſſiſtants work enough in all theſe kinds, if it be faithfully done?
As for the doing of it per ſe aut per alium, I have ſo far confuted it before, as that I may be bold to tell them now, that they may alſo receive the reward in ſe aut in alio: And if he that will not work ſhould not eat, quaere whether they ſhould eat per alium.
I add, If all this as Doctor Hammond maintaineth was made by the Spirit in the Apoſtles the Biſhops work, if they may make new Church-Officers to commit part of their work to, there may be twelve ſorts of Officers made by them for theſe twelve parts of their work. And then we ſhall better underſtand them.
Whatever is the work of a Biſhop as a Presbyter, every Presbyter may and muſt do, according to his ability and opportunity: But whatever belongeth to a Biſhop as a Biſhop, cannot be done by another, either Lay-man or Presbyter. Therefore let us have but Biſhops enough to do it, or elſe confeſs that it is no neceſſary work.
So great a truſt as the Goſpel and mens ſouls which Chriſt hath committed to Biſhops, may not be caſt upon others without his conſent that did commit it to them. But they can ſhew no conſent of Chriſt to make new Officers to do their work by. Timothy was to commit the ſame to others which he had received, 2 Tim. 2. 2. The things thou haſt heard of me among many witneſſes, the ſame commit thou to faithful men, who ſhall be able to teach others alſo. And who knoweth not that if a Tutor commit his work ſtatedly to another, he maketh that other a Tutor? And ſo if a Phyſician commit his work ſtatedly to another, or a Pilot, or the Maſter of a Family, he maketh the other a Phyſician, a Pilot, a Maſter? And ſo if a Biſhop or Presbyter commit his work ſtatedly to another, he maketh that other a Biſhop or Presbyter. And then that Biſhop or Presbyter ſo made is himſelf obliged as well as empowred, and the work that he doth is his own work, and not his that delivered him his Commiſſion. So that this doing theſe twelve parts of a Biſhops work per alium is a meer mockery, unleſs they ſpeak unfitly, and mean the making of all thoſe to be Biſhops as they are, or elſe by perfidious uſurpation caſting their truſt and work on others. For if they could prove that God himſelf had inſtituted the Species of Sub-presbyters, it would be to do their own work, and not another mans.
My next proof of the limitation of Churches in Scripture times is, that Deacons and Biſhops were diſtinct Officers appointed to the ſame Churches. The Church which the Deacon was related to, was the very ſame, and of the ſame extent, with the Church which the Biſhop was related to; as is plain in all Texts where they are deſcribed; Act. 6. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 7. &c. But it is moſt clear that no Deacon then had the charge of many hundred Churches, or more than one ſuch as I have deſcribed: Therefore neither had the Biſhop of that Church.
They that have now extended the Office of the Deacons further, and have alienated them from their firſt works, of attending at the Sacred Tables, and taking care of the Poor, cannot deny but that this was at leaſt a great part of their work in the Scripture times and ſome Ages after (at leaſt when Jerome ad Evagr. deſcribed the Offices of the Presbyters and Deacons.) And was any man then made a Deacon to a Dioceſs? or to many hundred Churches? or to more than one? Did he attend the Tables of many Churches each Lords day at the ſame time? If you ſay that there were many Deacons, and ſome were in one Church and ſome in another, it is true: that is, They were in ſeveral Aſſemblies, which were every one a true Church, and they were oft many in one Aſſembly: But there was no one that was related to Many ſtated Church Aſſemblies; nor to a Church of a leſſer ſize or magnitude than the Biſhop was.
5. And that there was no Church then without a Biſhop (one or more) is evident from Act. 14. 23. They ordained them Elders in every Church; compared with other Texts that call them Biſhops: And Doctor Hammond ſheweth that theſe Elders were Biſhops. And indeed it was not a Church (in a proper political ſenſe) that had no Biſhops formally or eminently. No more than there can be a Kingdom without a King, a School without a School-maſter, or a family without a Maſter.
Object. They are called Churches Act. 14. 23. before they had ordained Elders.
Anſw. 1. It is not certain from the Text, for the name might be given from their ſtate in fieri or which they were now entring into. 2. If it were ſo, it is certain that the appellation was equivocal, as it is uſual to diſtinguiſh the Kingdom from the King, the School from the School-maſter, the Family from the Maſter, but not in the ſtrict political ſenſe of the words, for that comprehendeth both. 3. The truth is, they were true political Churches before. For they had temporary unfixed Biſhops, even the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts, that converted them, and officiated among them. Otherwiſe they could have held no Sacred Aſſemblies for holy Communion and the Lords Supper, as having none to adminiſter it. The fixing of peculiar Biſhops did not make them firſt Churches, but made them ſetled Churches in ſuch an order as God would eſtabliſh.
6. Laſtly, The ſetling of Churches with Biſhops in every City, Tit. 1. 5. doth ſhew of what magnitude the Churches were in the Scripture times. For, 1. It is known that ſmall Towns in Judea were called Cities. 2. And that Creete which was called Hecatompolis, as having an hundred Cities, muſt needs then have ſmall ones, and near together. 3. And it is a confeſſed thing that the number of Converts was not then ſo great, as to make City Churches ſo numerous near as our Pariſhes are.
And if the conſideration of all this together, will not convince any, that the Churches that had Biſhops in Scripture times, conſiſted not of many ſtated Aſſemblies as afore deſcribed, but of one only, and were not bigger than our Pariſhes, let ſuch enjoy their error ſtill.