The Hierarchical Bishops Claim Tried at the Scripture-Bar, Part 3 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Wherein is considered the Surveyers Answer to the Presbyterian Charge against the Diocesan Prelat, as a new Officer, different from those instituted by our Lord, and standing in opposition to the Scripture Accounts of the New Testament Church-Government: And this upon the Ground of the Perfection of the Scripture Records hereanent, and our Lords Faithfulness in the full Institution of the Officers and Government of his Church
THE Surveyer, now P. 219. tells his Reader, He hath presented the Summ of the Presbyterian Strength in these Passages, and given fair and just Interpretations of these Scriptures, which they plead. Whereas he hath presented rather a Farrago of his own fantastick Quiblings, and contradictory Notions and Conceits, instead of true Interpretations of these places: And it is apparent that after all this Mans faint Essays, the Presbyterian Bow abids in its Strength. Yet after all is done, the Surveyer will needs attempt the removal of some more Impediments in his way.
The one is, That the Presbyterians disown Episcopacy as a Human invention, as a new Office, never appointed by Christ, and consequently to be expelled his House: In Answer to this, the Surveyer having acknowledged, that there are Human inventions which proceed from Mens pleasures, as Matth. 15.9. adds, that there are results of sanctified Reason, subservient to the orderly performance of the Worship of God, and to the Ruling of his House, with respect to the general Rules of the Word; Wherein as before, he still beggs the Question▪ in supposing Prelacy to be one of these variable Circumstances determinable by Human Prudence, and subservient to the Churches good, according to the General Rules of the Word, which is proved to be Diametrally opposit to Christs Institutions, in point of Government, and stands in opposition to the great ends of the Churches Edific…tion, and the true Government thereof. Thereafter, he runs out into an impertinent discourse anent Ministers use of invention in Preaching, the singing of Psalms with Poetical invention, of the Composer in Metre, who had no infallible inspiration; And asks if we account the Confession of Faith, Catechism, and the Holy Covenant, Human Inventions, as to their outward frame? And enquires further, what we will answer to one that should plead thus, was not Christ and his Apostles wise enough, and could have set down such forms, if they had ju…ged them necessary, &c. and not left them to Mans inventions? Ans. The impertinency of all this evidently appears, when we consider, that our Question with them, is anent an Office and Officer not appointed by the Lord, and cross to his Institutions, in Point of Government, whether Men may set him up in the House of God, yea or not. His Instances speak only of the Lawfulness of our Reason and Christian Prudence, in a clear subserviency to the obedience of Commanded Ordinances; for such is Preaching, and Ministerial instruction, Catechising, and Singing of Psalms; So that these being Commanded Ordinances and Institutions, the proper subservient means thereof, do in a Remote Sense, fall within the compass of the Divine Commands, enjoining the same; such are these he mentions, viz. a methodical form of Sound words, digested into Catechisms, for the Peoples instruction and growth of Knowledge, the framing of Psalms, commended for the use of Singing (a Commanded Duty) into such a Metrical Composure, as is suitable hereunto, I mean keeping still close to the Sacred Text, and not varying from the true and genuine Sense of the words; the Minister making use of Sanctified Reason, in a suitable Methodical invention, to digest the Matter he delivereth, in the best Mould, for the Case and Edification of the People, to whom he is the Mouth of God, and must divide the Word of Truth aright unto them, applying it for Doctrin, Reproof, Exhortation, &c. according to their various Conditions. For the Covenant, which the Surveyer in derision calls Holy, it falls under the same Consideration with the preceeding Instances, besides the clear Scripture Precedents, recommending and warranding the Practice. These I say, are so far from reaching any Patrociny to the setting up of a Prelat, whose Office encroaches upon the Due Rights of a true Gospel Ministry, and consequently stands in opposition both to Divine Institutions and ends of Government, that this defence appears no defence at all. For what he adds of the …reed and Doxologie, it is removed by what is said, and we need only to add, that the end of such Observances is better reached in the present Practice of our Church, in point of Worship, than with such Observances.
But the Surveyer appears very angry at the calling the Diocesan Bishop a New Officer, not Instituted by GOD in his House, and spe…ds to this Scope many words, P. 222.223. which is this in Summ. First That the Prelatical Function, is only a new Dignity and Authority granted for Peace sake, to one Minister above others, within the bounds of the same Order. Ans. First, the Surveyer should have considered that his Spliting of a supposed Divinely Instituted Office, and dividing the Work and Duties thereof unto different Subjects and Recipients, is upon the Matter a devising of New Orders, and all one therewith. Do not Papists tell us, that the Priest is the Highest Order of Ministry, and comprises, with the Diaconate, their whole Hierarchy, which is nothing else but an extension of these? Suppose the Pastoral Power of Order were thus Split, that one Rank or degree of Men were allowed only to Baptize, not to Preach, others to Preach, not at all to Baptize, who will disown it, that these were Antiscriptural Human Inventions, dividing what GOD hath conjoined? And once admitting this, what limits can be set to Mens inventions in this Point? Or how can the Multiplyed Orders in Popery be condemned, and all the Swarm of their new invented Officers? Sure, the solid ground of Condemning them, is, that they are a Spurious Brood, inverting and destroying the End, Union and Order of the Divinely appointed Officers of the House of GOD. The Spliting of the Actings of the Power of Order is surely condemned upon this Ground of the Oneness and Identity of this Office of the Pastor: And if the Case stands thus with Reference to the Power and Exercise of Order, why is not the case the same in the Point of Jurisdiction, which is for the same end as the other? Moreover, if upon pretence of Order and Unity, this extension of the exercise were admitted, in the Method he pleads, this Jurisdictional Power may be extended to the highest degree, even of a Patriarchat or Popedome, for the Pope doth pretend he is but of the order of Priestood, and the lowest Rank of that Hierarchy have, by this Principle, a fundamental aptitude for the highest Office and extent of their Order. The Surveyer will have a Power left to the Church, to Rank Ministers, with a Respect to Union; and here is an Union of the Universal Church, resolving in such an Officer, and clearly going upon his Principle of the way of uniting particular Churches: And who will doubt that the Union of the Church Universal hath the same Ground with that of Particular Churches?
In a word, the Folly of this Discourse appears in this, that Ministers who have an unquestionable interest in Ordination and Jurisdiction, are charged by the Great Master, duely to exercise both, as they shall Answer to him, and therefore must not, but upon their perril denude themselves of any piece of that Work and Authority committed to them; this being the Talent, whereof they are to give an account to him, who hath given to every one of his Servants their Work. The distinction of the Diocesan, Hierarchical Prelat from the Presbyter, as a New Officer, is evident, whether we consider his New Name, of Bishop or Archbishop; his New work of Governing the Diocess, besides his Trust in the Civil Government; his New Ordination or Consecration to his New work; his distinct Qualifications, in consequence of the whole, from the Pastor or Minister: So that he appears in all these Respects, a Compacted New Officer, and supposing the Pastors Divine Authority, a New Usurper. The Surveyer tells us, He is no New Officer, since the inferior Officer doing th… same Acts, it is not a nullity. But, as this Reason would tend to the former Antiscriptural spliting of Offices, so that the Episcopalians will not allow this Concession, is by this time evident. We all know who have in a late practice, condemned the Presbyterial Ordination of the Protestant Church of France. For what he adds of the Power of the Commission of Assemblies, to Fortifie his Notion, the Disparity is palpable and apparent, whether we consider the Powers Deputing and giving Commission, viz: The King, in the Case of the Prelats; the Churches Representative or Assembly, in the Case of the Commission: The Prelat receiving a New Ordination; The Commissioners not: The Commissioners being limited as to their work and continuance by the Assembly, and as being Answerable unto them, not the Prelats &c. But of this above. As for his discourse of Superintendents, P. 223. The Author of the Vindiciae Epistolae Philadelphi against Spotswoods Calumnies, hath at large made good the vast and essential difference betwixt the transient Office of the Superintendents and that of Prelats, P. 31.32. in no less than Twelve Instances to which, for brevitie, we refer the Reader.
The Surveyer P. 223.224. attempts in the next place, to answer the Objection against the Hierarchical Prelat taken from Christs Faithfulness, and the Scriptures perfection: From the Comparison institut in Scripture betwixt Christ and Moses, in point of Faithfulness, in the Ordering and Institution of the Government and Ordinances of the House of God. The Argument is no doubt very considerable upon both grounds, if we shall but suppose the Absolute Perfection of all our M…diators Offices, and the Correspondent Exercises thereof, for the Edification and Salvation of his Church, and especially under the Gospel Dispensation: As a Prophet, he hath fully revealed the Counsel and Mind of GOD, so as nothing is to be added to his Divine Revelations thereof, no new Rules, Truths or Duties to be superadded beyond the limits he hath revealed: As a Priest, his Satisfaction, his Intercession▪ is so full, that no pretended subservient Intercessors or Saviours, are to be devised by Men: Thus ful and perfect is the Exercise of his Kingly Office, in appointing the Officers, Censures, Laws and Government of his House. The Argument appears further invincibly strong when we Ponder two things. First, What the faithfulness of Moses under the Legal dispensation, did reach unto, which our Blessed Lords Soveraign Faithfulnesss doth exceed. 1. Moses appointed the Officers of the House of God their several Orders and Degrees, their Work and Duties, in so far that his Institutions did amount to determin a species of Government. 2. All his Appointments hereanent were fixed and unalterable, so as none might add to or detract therefrom. 3. They were hence not Committed to the disposal of the Civil Magistrate, to mould them after the Rules of worldly Policy. 4. These Officers were not to denude themselves of any part of the Authority and Function committed to them, or of the exercise thereof. Hence, it inevitably follows, that the Government and Officers of the Church of the New Testament, is in all these Points of the like Nature; the Species is determined, the Offices and Officers are unalterable, are not to be Fashioned by Mens Laws at their arbitriment, are to continue in this Fixed Mould of his Institution, and Method of its Official Exercise, till his Returning again.
Secondly, The Scriptures Perfection clears this abundantly, all things to be believed and practised, in order to Salvation, are perfectly contained therein, and there being so much delivered in Scriptures, touching the Government, Laws and Offices of the House of GOD, and in order to the Instruction, both of Church Rulers and Church Members, in their Respective Duties; if these Directions, Laws and Institutions be not compleatly correspondent to these ends, the Scriptures perfection is palpably impeached, and the infinit Wisdom of the Lawgiver blasphemed.
To this Argument the Surveyer Answers, That in order to the great end of our Lords Prophetical and Kingly Offices, He hath given particular Commands concerning the Essentials of the Government of His House, and general Commands to direct the Prudence of His Church▪ to order what is Left to Christian Liberty▪ for the best Ends; And that it is preposterous to fancy a thing necessary; and then alledge Christ hath instituted the same, because Faithful, but rather upon this ground, we must reason the necessity of the thing from his Appointment. Ans. This is removed in a word, by this one Position, That if we acknowledge these Essentials do include all necessary Offices and Officers of the Church, and do draw the Limits and Measures of their Actings, Qualifications, and the Nature of their Power, with such Exactness, as none may justle with, or encroach upon their Priviledges therein; We can offer such Scripture Discoveries in this Point, as do sufficiently lay aside the Diocesan Prelat, and prove him such an Heteroclite, as his Office cannot be brought up to the Scripture Rules. Thus, we are so far from such Reasoning, as this fancycal Surveyer imputs to us, that on the contrary, we do suppose and prove the Scripture Institutions in this Point, and upon the Scripture Discoveries thereof, we reason the Necessity from our Lords Faithfulness. But if the Surveyer did hold that the Offices and Officers of the House of GOD, their Duties and Qualification, are such things as falls within the compass of the Churches Liberty, to dispose as she thinks fit: 1. It might be enquired, what he or those of his Mind will owne as Essentials? Next, To what end are all the Scripu…e Directions and Institutions in this Point delivered unto the Church of GOD? And why upon this Ground, the most extended Hierarchy may not be pleaded for? 3. How this can consist with that express Design of the Scriptures Perfection, viz. To make, not only the ordinary Christian, but also the Man of God, the Minister of God, perfect and thorowly furnished to every good Work, or every piece of his Office and Duty; and with this further Expression of this Design of Ministerial Instructions proposed by the Apostle, 1 Tim. 3.15. viz. To instruct the Man of God how to behave in the House of God, which is His Church? In Answer to this, the Surveyer acknowledges the Scriptures Perfection, to make the Man of GOD wise to Salvation, and furnish him for every good Work, either by the general or particular Precepts thereof, but that it belongs not to the Perfection of the Scripture, to contain the particular Rules for all the Circumstantials of Church Government, more than it doth for all the particular Practices of our common Life. Ans. Behold the Hierarchy, in this our Surveyers great Essay, turned into the Dwarf of a mere Circumstance. Behold also his Zeal for right ordering of the House of GOD, what Officers must Rule therein, what the Nature of their Work and Power is, what Duties are committed to them, what the Nature and Species of the Government must be, whether it must run to the Extrems of Monarchy, or the An…baptistical Morellian way, of Anarchy, or the midle Forms; All, or either of these is but a mere Circumstance, with our Surveyer. Let any Judge, if he gave not here manus victas to the Presbyterians, and yeelded up his Cause to them: For no Man of Sense, will call the Matters, instanced mere Circumstances; And if they be not, the Scriptures Perfection, for the ends mentioned, must clearly reach the Determination thereof. The Surveyer told us, That the work of the Bishop 1 Tim. 3. Doth import the Work and Office of the Hierarchical Prelat; And he has acknowledged here the Scriptures Perfection to furnish the Minister of Christ for every good Work, yea, he hath asserted P. 194.195. That the plentitude of the Apostolick Power, committed by our Lord to the Apostles, for the great End of the Churches Edification and Union, was by them committed to the Bishops, as their proper Successors. Now, how these Assertions can consist with his Describing and Owning here the Work and Office of the Bishop as a mere Circumstance, wherein the Scriptures gives no certain distinct Sound, must be put among the rest of his mysterious Inventions.
Two or three things further, I add, and I have done with this Surveyer. First, It is generally acknowledged by all Sound Divines, That there is no Lawful Church Office or Officer of the House of GOD, but what must have our LORD'S positive Grant or Institution: And this is fortified by several Grounds. 1. Whatever is not of Faith is sin, in general, and whoever pretends to Officiat in Christs House and Kingdom, as an Officer therein, acts sine titulo, and his Actings are void; And therefore he cannot act in Faith, if there be not a Divine Warrand for the Office he sustains, and the Official Exercise and Actings thereof. 2. If we acknowledge Christs Kingly Power and Headship over the Church, as a political Body, whereof he is the political Head, giving her her Laws and Officers, Isa. 9.6. Matth. 28.18. Ioh. 5.22. As in all Kingdoms, no person can claim an Office of State, or Magistracy, without the Warrand of the Laws, and the Kings Authority thereto Interposed, so all Church Power and Authority, must be conveyed to Church Officers by this Glorious KING's Authentick Commission or Grant. Now, none can pretend to any Grant or Commission from Him, but what is in the Scriptures; Which is especially evident, and further convincingly clear, both from the Perfection of His Word and Testament hereanent; And likewise, from this, that the Church Government in the whole of it, must needs be acknowledged to be founded upon a Divine and positive Institution.
Secondly, Our LORD did thus actually exercise His Kingly Power, and derived the same to Church Officers, thus he gave the P…wer to Bind and Loose, and the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to his Apostles, promised His Presence with them and their Successors to the End; And this for the Edification and Building up of His Church, till her Warfare is accomplished, Matth. 16.18.19, with Matth. 18.19.20. Ioh. 21.23. Matth. 28.18.19, 20. 2 Cor. 8.13. Eph. 4.11.12.
Finally, When this Fundamental Truth of our LORD'S political Headship and Influences accordingly, in the Government of the Church, and the Perfection of His Holy Testament, in reference to the Laws, Ordinances, and Officers thereof, is denyed, the Foundations of a Christian Church are removed, the Rules, Limits, and Boundaries, in reference to the Duties, both of Church Officers and Members, so annihilate, as the Church becomes a Chaos of all Confusion and arbitrary Disorder whatsomever, or at least the Leaden and Versatile Rule of Worldly Wisdom, being made her Measures of Ordinances and Government, a Door is opened for Inundations of all Errors and Superstitions, and for the most wicked Usurpations and Disorders, in point of Government, that the wicked Mind of Man, by the influence of Satan, can invent.
FINIS.