The Kingdom of God Among Men, Tract 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
A good frame of Ecclesiastical Polity.
THe promoting of true Christianity, and all the things before named pertaining to the sound state of Religion, depends much upon a good frame of Ecclesiastical polity. Undoubtedly our Lord Jesus Christ hath appointed Spiritual Officers to guide and rule his Church; and in the government thereof there be some things of divine right, and unalterable by the will of man; and there be many things necessary to the support and due managment thereof, that are of humane determination as to the particulars. Both kinds are liable to depravation and great abuse. Things of divine right may be corruptly managed and perverted to wrong ends; And things of mans appointment are sometimes not only ill managed, but ill ordained, as being wholly incongruous and perhaps pernicious to the right ends of goverment. Now a good polity is the whole compages of things laid together in the fabrick of the Church fitted and directed to promote the Christian life, or the power of Godliness, and to prevent or remedy the decay thereof. And the more notably and powerfully conducible it is to this end, it is by so much the more excellent.
According to this rule, it hath most regard for sincere Christians, and insists most upon their incouragement and the increase of their number, and it makes all its external orders and interests subservient to the prosperity of the Church regenerate.
The order wherein it excells, is an orderly management of those things, which are of divine Command, in matter of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Conversation, in such manner as is most effectual for the obtaining of their ends, by such necessary rules of Prudence, as are requisite in all Human actions.
It prefers purity and spirituality before external pomp, though it neglects not those necessary decencies and Ornaments that should attend the Service of God, according to the awfull regard that is to be had thereto, and the reverend demeanor to be used therein.
It provides able Ministers of the Gospel, and that every Pastor be resident with his own Flock, and that he duly feed them, and labour in the Word and Doctrine, and that the People be not left in the hands of a Mercenary procured at the cheapest rate.
It provides by a liberal maintenance worthy endowments and priviledges, for that meet support and honour of the ministery, which is requisit to preserve the authority and reverend esteem of their Persons and Office; yet it regulates the same as much as may be, to prevent ambition, avarice, sensuality, idleness, haughtiness; that the worst of Men may not be incouraged to aspire to its Promotions, and that good Men may not degenerate, and that the sacred name of the Church may be held by a society of Men, not carnal but truly spiritual.
It is constituted as much as may be, to secure a succession of wise and godly Pastors and Teachers from age to age, which is the surest means of the Church's perpetual good Estate.
It is not framed to uphold things only serviceable to a carnal interest, but to inforce things acceptable to God and profitable to Men; and to suppress whatsoever tends to defeat the power of the Gospell, or disgrace the Profession of it; and to reform abuses impartially and effectually.
According to the true end of Ecclesiasticall Authority (which is for edification, and not for destruction) it inlargeth the power of doing good, and restrains the power of hurting, as much as the ends of Goverment will permit such restraint; accordingly its greatest severity takes hold of the worst Men, and the best are left most at liberty, and secure from unnecessary molestation.
It is directed to the satisfying of the just and reasonable demands of conscience, which is a choice and tender thing, and therefore it is very tender of intangling and perplexing the same unnecessarily.
It makes the Pastors government truly pastoral, that is, not imperious and violent, but Paternal, proceeding by Exhortation and Doctrine, and gentle instruction and love, and when correction is necessary, by the rod of Discipline.
It aims at the forming of Mens minds, and the governing of their conversations by good and sound Principles, and to make them, a… much as may be, a Law to themselves: yet a… supposing the exceeding pravity of Mans nature, and the infirmities of the best of men, i… leaves not the safety of Religion meerly to Mens good dispositions and inclinations, bu… by due restraints curbeth the remainder o… Mans perverseness.
It seeks not to debase the People and de press their faculties, that they may be the more easily led captive by politick Men at their pleasure; but to ennoble them, as much as they are capable, and to advance their understandings to the best improvement; and accordingly it takes care, that they may be throughly instructed in things pertaining to Faith and Godliness. In a word, it would make even the lowest and meanest of them not Brutes bu… Men; and not meer natural men, but Christians or spiritual Men.
The subject here described hath different degrees of excellency, as it is more or less answerable to its rule, and available to its end. But notwithstanding divers defects and errours, if that which is wholsom and good be predominant, it is to be esteemed a good Constitution: yet the best is most desirable. Of such consequence is the structure of Ecclesiastical Polity, that if it be naught, it hath a continual evil influence on all Church affairs, and perverts the whole course thereof; and the making of many particular good Laws, or Rules will not help it; for in that case they are rendred almost useless. It is notably observed by a Person of eminent worth. Church Government is a fort or castle, if Traitors to the Kingdom of Christ get the possession of it, it were desirable, that the Castle were ruin'd, and the Christian Religion left to support it self by the innate evidence of its own Truth, than be forcibly maintain'd for contrary ends, and prove a mystery of Ungodliness and Tyranny.