A Plain and Familiar Christian Conference, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of Communion of Churches.
Phil.
IS the Supream Juriſdiction Eccleſiaſtical in every particular Congregation? Is there none Superiour to appeal to, Epiſcopal or Claſſical?
Chriſt.
None but Chriſt himſelf. For all Churches are coordinate in Power one with another, nextly and immediately under Chriſt; neither hath Chriſt conſtituted any Officers with Apoſtolick Power over many Churches.
Phil.
But what if matter of difficulty ariſe; ought not Elders of neighbouring Churches to aſſemble and decide it?
Chriſt.
There are two ſorts of things wherein matters of Controverſie do uſually lye, 1. There may be a caſe in Theſi, which to underſtand the Mind of God clearly in, is of great concernment to the Church; and if the Paſtor and other Officers cannot ſufficiently ſatisfie the Mind of the Brethren, then it's requiſite to conſult other Churches and Elders; who when they give their Judgment in the Caſe, it is no further binding, than it carries the light of Truth with it; for no Elders can impoſe any rule of practice upon the Churches: and their Judgment hath no more force than Miniſterial; ſo far as carrying the Authority of Chriſt in his declared Mind and Will. Here then it's very neceſſary and requiſite, that in matters of greater and weightier concern other Churches ſhould be acquainted and conſulted. Other things are referrible all to matter of fact in elections, admiſſions, tranſlations, and excluſions And here the Church is the ſupream Judge, and none to be appealed to. Why ſhould not a Church of Chriſt be as able to judge in any caſe of this Nature, as well as a Jury in Civil Affairs to whoſe Judgment, as to matter of fact our Lives and Eſtates are left daily. Therefore if we hold the diſtinction de jure & de facto, this matter of the Juriſdiction of Churches will be clear. In caſes de jure, a Church can be led only by the beſt light they can have; and the more the better, and knowing this they have a foundation to proceed upon in matter of fact, whereupon the binding and looſing lyes in themſelves.
Phil.
What if a Member or Minor part of a Church think themſelves wronged upon the ſuppoſed irregular proceedings of the Majority?
Chriſt.
He or they may complain to another Church. That Church is to hear what the Siſter Church ſaith in vindication. If it ſatisfie not, nor is convinced of it's error, then another Church (i. e. the Elders with Meſſengers thereof) to deal with the offending Church. And if it hear not, then the caſe is to be brought before the vicinity of Churches. All which finding this Church juſtly chargeable with ſin, and incorrigible therein, agree to declare Non-communion with it, which is virtually an Excommunication, for the rule of Churches dealing with each others is of the ſame nature, as that, Mat. 18. where a rule is laid down by our Saviour for the orderly proceeding of one Church Member with another.
Phil.
What if an Elder fall under offence in a Church; is it in the power of that Church to deal with him, as with an ordinary Brother?
Chriſt.
There is no doubt of it, the Juriſdiction is in the Church as to Officers, who are Brethren, as well as to others, and the manner of proceeding is the ſame; but an accuſation againſt an Elder is not preſently to be received, it muſt be clearly evidenced by two or three Witneſſes. Again, in ſuch caſes it's good for the Church to proceed with the advice and approbation (if poſſible) of other Neighbouring Churches and Elders.
Phil.
Wherein conſiſts the practical part of Communion of Churches?
Chriſt.
1. A concurrence in principles of Faith and Order. 2. In giving each other the Right Hand of Fellowſhip. As, 1. In receiving each others Members unto tranſient Communion, as due occaſion requires. 2. In diſmiſſing Members to each others, or receiving Members orderly diſmiſſed. 3. In refuſal to admit ſuch to Communion, which are under the cenſure of another Church or diſorderly withdrawn from it, ſignification being made thereof. 3. There is Communion of Churches in mutual advice and counſel, which ſhould be maintained by Elders frequent aſſembling and meeting together for this end and purpoſe. 4. By ſympathizing with each others Poverty and Afflictions, by relieving and ſupporting as much as poſſible ſuch as labour in this kind. And this is a Communion in giving and receiving, as the Apoſtle calls it.
Phil.
Is there not a Communion of Churches in the office power of the Elders, v. gr. for one Paſtor to adminiſter the Lords Supper in another, and for the Elders of one or more Congregations to ordain Elders in another.
Chriſt.
Officers have a peculiar relation to the Society that hath called them, and there only they are ſuch, and that ſociety only can conſtitute and ordain them, and there only they can exerciſe their particular Office charge. As a Paſtor can adminiſter the Lords Supper only in the Church to which he is overſeer; neither the ruling Elder can govern, nor the Deacon hath power to diſtribute any where but where he is a Deacon, or hath that Office charge committed to him, for if the Officer of one Church were thereby made an indefinite Officer to all, it would ſoon bring confuſion to all, and the Elders of one Church might excommunicate in another.
Phil.
I thank you Sir, for this brief account you have given me of your Church Order. As for the Ordinances of Chriſts inſtitution I think all reformed Churches own them more or leſs, and the Romaniſts themſelves in their way, though with innumerable Superſtitions and Idolatrous additions. And for the Church Officers you inſiſt on, methinks I ſee there is ſomething analogous to them remaining in our parochial Churches, which hath been handed down from the primitive practice through Antichriſtian Darkneſs. As in ſome of our Pariſhes we have the Parſon as Paſtor, the Aſſiſtant in Preaching, as the Teacher, the Church Wardens as ruling Elders, the overſeers of the Poor as Deacons. and though theſe labour under many abuſes now, and irregularities by Popiſh corruptions, yet it ſhews that theſe are the Officers that do fully anſwer the neceſſity of a Chriſtian Congregation, and that if it be large none of them can well be ſpared.