A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 23
Chap. 23. Of publick worſhip, Churches, and Ordinances.
Q. HAD the Jewes Synagogues generally in their cities to worſhip God in, and was there reading the Law in them conſtantly on the Sabbath day?
A. Act. 15.21. For Moſes of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day. Acts 13.14, 15.
Q. Was it the practiſe of Chriſt, and his Diſciples and followers, the primitive Chriſtians, to worſhip God on the Sabbath daies at their owne home, or in private houſes, or in the Synagogues?
A. Luk. 4.16. And he came to Nazareth, and as his cuſtome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and ſtood up for to read. So Chap. 6.6. And it came to paſſe alſo on another Sabbath, that he entred into the Synagogue, and taught. Joh. 18.20. Jeſus anſwered, I ſpake openly to the world, I ever taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither the Jewes alwaies reſort, and in ſecret have I ſaid nothing. Act. 9.20. And ſtraightway he preached Chriſt in the Synagogue, that he is the Son of God. Act. 13.5. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jewes.
Q. Did the Apoſtles rob the Temples or Idols of the Heathens of their riches?
A. No: Act. 19.37. For ye have brought hither theſe men, which are neither robbers of Churches, nor yet blaſphemers of your Goddeſſe.
Q. Was it held lawfull in the Apoſtle's dayes to alienate that part of a man's eſtate, which he had once vowed or dedicated unto God?
Anſ. No. Act. 5.3. But Peter ſayd; Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghoſt, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Q. May we meet and preach in places commonly called Churches?
A. Yes: Mar. 1.21. And they went into Capernaum, and ſtraightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the Synagogue, and taught. Luk. 4.15, 16. And he taught in their Synagogue, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth,— and as his cuſtome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and ſtood up for to read. Joh. 18.20. I ever taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither the Jewes alwaies reſort, and in ſecret have I ſaid nothing. Act. 13.14, 15. They came to Antioch in Piſidia, and went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and ſate down: and after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the Rulers of the Synagogue ſent unto them, ſaying, ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of Exhortation for the people, ſay on. Act. 18.4. And he reaſoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath, and perſwaded the Jewes and the Greeks. Act. 19.8, 9. And he went into the Synagogue, and ſpake boldly for the ſpace of three moneths, diſputing and perſwading the things concerning the Kingdome of God. But when diverſe were hardened &c. he departed from them, and ſeparated the diſciples, diſputing daily in the Schoole of one Tyrannus.
Q. Is it an evidence of right Zeale to pull down Churches?
A. No: Pſal. 74.8. They ſaid in their hearts, Let us deſtroy them together: they have burnt up all the Synagogues of God in the Land. Luk. 7.5. For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a Synagogue.
Q. Have we any warrant for reading the Scriptures, as it is uſed to be called firſt and ſecond leſson, before the miniſter begin his Sermon?
A. Act. 13.15. And after the reading of the Law & the Prophets, the Rulers of the Synagogue ſent unto thē, ſaying, ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of Exhortation for the people, ſay on &c.
Q. Is the ſpirit given that we may live without or above Gods commandements and ordinances?
A. Ezek. 11.19, 20. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new ſpirit within them, — that they may walke in my ſtatutes, and keep mine Ordinances, and do them.
Q. Are Goſpell Ordinances and diſpenſations a miniſtration of the letter or of the Spirit?
A. 2 Cor. 3.6. Who alſo hath made us able miniſters of the New Teſtament, not of the letter, but of the ſpirit.
Q. Is this miniſtry of the ſpirit to cōtinue?
Anſ. 2 Cor. 3.7, 8, 11. But if the miniſtration of death written and graven in ſtones was glorious, —which glory was to be done away; how ſhall not the miniſtration of the ſpirit be rather glorious? For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Q. What if a man have the ſpirit, be filled with the ſpirit, be a ſtrong Chriſtian, is he to caſt off ordinances, and offices in the Church?
A. Act. 6.5. And the ſaying pleaſed the whole multitude, & they choſe Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the H. Ghoſt. Act. 10.44, 47, 48. While Peter yet ſpake theſe words the Holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the word. Then anſwered Peter, can any man forbid water that theſe ſhould not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghoſt, as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Q. What Anſwer ſhall we give to thoſe Scriptures, Heb. 8.10, 11. 1 Joh. 2.27. 2 Pet. 1.1, 9?
A. To that place in the Hebrewes, I ſay, 1 That it muſt not be interpreted to forbid the uſe of all ordinances, and teaching by men; for the Apoſtles themſelves did notwithſtanding this promiſe go on teaching, and ordaining teachers in the Churches. 2 That if this text of Scripture ſhould be taken, as it ſeems to ſound in the expreſſe words and letter of it, it will make void and needleſſe not only publick teaching, and by miniſters or Church-officers, but alſo private inſtruction, and by private friends, neighbours, brethren, not miniſters. 3ly, I ſay, that the ſenſe and meaning may be, that they ſhall have not only the outward teaching of men, but the inward teaching of the ſpirit; and this teaching of God by his ſpirit they ſhall have in ſuch a manner and meaſure, that the other outward ſhall be nothing or needleſſe in compariſon: or 4thly, They ſhall in Goſpell times from the leaſt to the greateſt know God the Lord to be the Lord, and they ſhall not teach them, as if they were to teach a heatheniſh unknowing people: but the miniſters ſhall then teach a more knowing people; as tis ſaid, the Earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the ſea, (i. e.) there ſhall be abundance of knowledge beyond what there is now generally.
To that in 1 Epiſtle of John, the meaning is either this, You are ſufficiently already inſtructed in this, that Jeſus is the Chriſt, you need not a farther proof in that matter; the ſeducers, Anti-Chriſts, or falſe Chriſts, ſhall not be able to draw you away from this great truth. Or elſe, ye that are the children of God, have the gifts and graces of Gods ſpirit in ſuch a meaſure, that ye ſhall not be carried away from the Chriſtian Religion, or the truth as tis in Jeſus, but this Spirit ſhall teach you in all neceſſary & ſaving truths. And that notwithſtanding this place, this Apoſtle writes this Epiſtle to informe them, & to edify thē.
To that in 2 Ep. of Peter, the ſenſe and ſcope of the words may be this, that you may find the knowledge of God, and of his Chriſt, if you will read, and conſider, and compare the propheſies of the old Teſtament: for thoſe Scriptures teſtify of him. The meaning is not, that when you have got the knowledge of Chriſt, you need not further to take heed to the Scriptures: when the godly Pſ. 123.2. profeſſe to look or waite on God untill he have mercy on them, doe you think that they meant to look or waite on him juſt ſo long, and no longer?
Q. May miniſters preſſe Saints, who live and dwell in God, and who are taught of God, to hearken to a word or commandement without them?
A. Yes. 1 Theſ. 4.9. But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye your ſelves are taught of of God to love one another: compared with the 2d. For ye know what commandements we gave you by the Lord Jeſus. Eph. 6.1, 2. Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father & mother (which is the firſt commandement with promiſe) compared with ch. 1.1. Paul an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt by the will of God, to the Saints which are at Epheſus, and to the faithfull in Chriſt Jeſus. Jam. 2.8, 11. If ye fulfill the royall Law according to the Scripture, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelfe, ye do well. For he that ſaid, do not commit Adultery, ſaid alſo, do not kill. Now if thou commit no Adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a tranſgreſſor of the Law.
Q. May a believer that is in God come himſelfe to any Church, do we read of a church in God and the Lord Chriſt?
A. 2 Theſ. 1.1. Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Theſſalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Q. Is there a Catholick, or Univerſall Church, and may a man be ſaid to be a teacher, or ruler in that?
A. 1 Cor. 12.28. And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly teachers, &c.
Q. Had God a Church, ordinances, and miniſters in the daies of Antichriſt?
A. Rev. 13.11. And I beheld another beaſt coming up out of the earth, and he had two hornes like a lamb, and he ſpake as a dragon &c. compared with ch. 14.1, 3. And I looked, and loe a lamb ſtood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and foure thouſand, having his fathers name written in their foreheads: and they ſung as it were a new ſong before the throne, and before the four beaſts, and the Elders, and no man could learne that ſong, but the hundred forty and foure thouſand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Q. When the glorious times of the Church, ſpoken of by Iſaiah ch. laſt. come, will there be uſe of Miniſters and Ordinances?
A. Iſa. 66.21, 23. And I will alſo take of them for Prieſts, and for Levites, ſaith the Lord. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, ſhall all fleſh come to worſhip before me, ſaith the Lord.
Q. If a Miniſter, intending to be ſhort in a point, ſay, to conclude this in a word, and after doth uſe more words then one, or one or more ſentences, doth he lye?
A. Galat. 5.14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelfe.
Q. May Miniſters be bred up in Colledges under Tutors, in order to the Miniſtry; or are Colledges to be Nurſeries only for the Common-wealth and Schools, and not for the Church?
A. 1 Sam. 19.19, 20. And it was told Saul, ſaying, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul ſent meſſengers to take David, and when they ſaw the company of the Prophets propheſying, and Samuel ſtanding as appointed over them. 1 Sam. 10.10. And when they came thither to the hill, behold a company of Prophets met him, & the Spirit of God came upon him, & he propheſied among thē.
Q. Had the Apoſtle Paul Hebrew and Greek, and did he ever make any uſe of it?
A. Acts 22.2. And when they heard that he ſpake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more ſilence. And Acts 21.37. And as Paul was to be led into the Caſtle, he ſaid unto the chiefe Captaine, may I ſpeak unto thee? who ſaid, canſt thou ſpeak Greek?
Q. May we heare Miniſters, if they be, as they are charged, proud and covetous?
A. Math. 23.1, 2, 3. Then ſpake Jeſus to the multitude, and to his diſciples, ſaying, The Scribes and the Phariſees ſit in Moſes ſeat: all therefore whatſoever they bid you obſerve, that obſerve and do; but do not ye after their works: for they ſay and do not.
Q. If Miniſters have the ſpirit of God, doth it follow therefore that they muſt know all things perfectly?
A. 1 Cor. 13.9. For we know in part, and we propheſie in part.
Q. Were the Prophets and Apoſtles, who had the ſpirit in an extraordinary māner, beyond what miniſters in theſe dayes pretend unto, in every of their apprehenſions and actions ſo guided, that they were infallible, and unblameable?
A. 1 Sam. 16.6, 7. And it came to paſſe when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and ſaid, ſurely the Lords anointed is before him. But the Lord ſaid unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his ſtature, becauſe I have refuſed him: for the Lord ſeeth not as man ſeeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Gal. 2.11, 14. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withſtood him to the face, becauſe he was to be blamed. But when I ſaw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Goſpell, I ſaid unto Peter before thē all, If thou being a Jew liveſt after the manner of the Gentiles, & not as do the Jewes, why compelleſt thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jewes?
Q. How may we prove that thoſe motions, which are contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt, are not from the holy ſpirit?
A. Joh. 16.13, 14. Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelfe.— He ſhall glorify me, for he ſhall receive of mine, and ſhall ſhew it unto you. 1 Cor. 12.2, 3.
Q. How did Chriſt approve of Churches and Miniſters, their continuance, after he was gone to heaven?
A. Rev. 1.4, 5, 20. John to the 7 Churches in Aſia, grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. — And from Jeſus Chriſt, who is the faithfull witneſſe, and the firſt begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth: —The myſtery of the 7 Stars, which thou ſaweſt in my right hand, and the 7 golden Candleſticks. The 7 Stars are the Angels of the 7 Churches, and the 7 Candleſticks which thou ſaweſt, are the 7 Churches.
Q. How long are there to be Churches, and Miniſters, and Ordinances?
A. Math. 28. laſt. And loe I am with you alwaies, even unto the end of the world. 1 Cor. 11.22. —deſpiſe ye the Church of God?— ſhall I praiſe you in this, I praiſe you not, v. 26. for as often as ye eate this bread, and drink this cup, ye do ſhew the Lords death till he come.
Q. May men adminiſter ordinances, viz. Baptiſme and the Lords ſupper, who have not extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghoſt?
A. Joh. 10.41. And many reſorted unto him, and ſaid, John did no miracle: but all things that John ſpake of this man were true.
Q. Is the gift of tongues or miracles among the requiſite qualifications of a Biſhop or Miniſter?
A. No. 1 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. A Biſhop then muſt be blameleſſe, the huſband of one wife, vigilant, ſober, of good behaviour, given to hoſpitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no ſtriker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, one that ruleth well his owne houſe, having his children in ſubjection with all gravity, not a novice, leſt &c. moreover he muſt have a good report of them which are without, leſt he fall into reproach, and the ſnare of the Devill. Tit. 1.6, 7, 8, 9. If any be blameleſſe, the huſband of one wife, having faithfull children, not accuſed of riot, or unruly: for a Biſhop muſt be blameleſſe, as the ſteward of God: not ſelfe-willed, not ſoon angry, not given to wine, no ſtriker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hoſpitality, a lover of good men, ſober, juſt, holy, temperate, holding faſt the faithfull word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by ſound Doctrine both to exhort, and convince the gainſayers.
Q. May a man receive the Sacraments, who hath not the extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghoſt in abundance?
Anſ. Yes. Act. 8.14 15, 16, 17. When the Apoſtles — heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they ſent unto them Peter and John; who when they were come down prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghoſt, for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were babtized in the name of the Lord Jeſus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the H. Ghoſt. Math. 26.26. And as they were eating, Jeſus took bread, and bleſſed it, and brake it, and gave it to the diſciples, &c. compared with Act. 2.4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and began to ſpeak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Q. Is the word of God to be read in the Church?
A. Col. 4.16. And when this Epiſtle is read amongſt you, cauſe that it be read alſo in the Church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewiſe read the Epiſtle from Laodicea.
Q. Is the Sacrament of the Lords ſupper yet to be adminiſtred in the Church?
A. 1 Cor: 11.20, 21, 33, 34. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eate the Lords ſupper; for in eating every one taketh before other his own ſupper: and one is hungry, another is drunken. Wherefore my brethren when ye come together to eate, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eate at home, that ye come not together unto condemnation.
Q. May the Church meet for holy conference?
A. 1 Cor. 14.31, 34, 35. For ye may all propheſie one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Let your women keep ſilence in the Churches, — for it is a ſhame for women to ſpeak in the Church.
Q. May the Church deny to have communion with brethren, if they are ſcandalous perſons?
A. 1 Cor. 5.11, 12. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an Idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch a one, no, not to eate: — do not ye judge them that are within.
Q. May particular congregations, who ordinarily meet together for worſhip, be called Churches?
A. Act. 14.23. And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church, and had prayed with faſting, they commended them to the Lord. 1 Cor. 4.17. For this cauſe have I ſent unto you Timotheus —who ſhall bring you into remembrance of my waies, which be in Chriſt, as I teach every where, in every Church. ch. 14.23. If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place, and all ſpeak with tongues &c.
Q. May the believers of one city or country, although they have many ſeverall Paſtors or teachers over them, be called a Church?
A. Act. 20.17, 28. And from Miletus he ſent to Epheſus, and called the Elders of the Church. Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to all the flock over which the H. Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his owne bloud.
Q. Do all the Churches, or believers in them, make up one Church of Chriſt?
A. Col. 1.18. And he is the head of the body the Church, who is the beginning, the firſt borne from the dead.
Q. May the Elders and brethren of ſeverall churches meet and conferre together about queſtions, or matters of difference, which may ariſe amongſt them, or any of them?
A. Act. 15.1, 2, 6, 7. And certaine men which came down from Judea, taught the brethren, and ſaid, except ye be circumciſed after the manner of Moſes, ye cannot be ſaved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no ſmall diſſenſion and diſputation with them, they determined that Paul, and Barnabas, and certaine others of them, ſhould go up to Jeruſalem unto the Apoſtles and Elders about this Queſtion. And the Apoſtles and Elders came together, for to conſider of this matter. And when there had been much diſputing, Peter roſe up, and ſaid unto them &c.
Q. Are the multitude of believers to be ſatisfied, if it may be, in thoſe matters in queſtion?
Anſ. Act. 15.30, 31. So when they were diſmiſſed, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the Epiſtle; which when they had read, they rejoyced for the conſolation.
Q. May the multitude have a hand or voice in the choice of church officers?
A. Act. 6.2, 3, 5. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Diſciples unto them, and ſaid, &c. wherefore brethren look ye out among you 7 men of honeſt report, full of the Holy Ghoſt and wiſdome, whom we may appoint over this buſineſſe. And the ſaying pleaſed the whole multitude; and they choſe Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghoſt &c.