A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Answer to preface · Section 17
Sect. 17. Mr. Parker's arguments, that the form of Churches is of Divine Institution, are answered.
But this seems to some to be absurd, and thus I find it argued by Mr. Robert Parker, De Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 17. Is not the first Church the Body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12.27. And he that shewed himself an accurate worker in the determining the dimension and measure of mans body, Gen. 2. so as that nothing might be added or taken from it by any: may it be thought that he hath not shewed himself also an accurate worker in circumscribing the dimension of his own Body?
Answ. It is true: The Church of Christ, is the Body of Christ. But this is rather true of the Universal Church, and mystical Body of Christ, as may be gathered from 1. Cor. 12.12, 13. in that by one spirit Christians are all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Gentiles, Bond or Free; and from Ephes. 1.22, 23. where the Church, which is the Body of Christ the Head, is the fulness of Him that filleth all in all; Eph. 4.4. there is one Body, and one Spirit; then of the first Church, that is the first visible Church, which he makes a particular Congregation, such as that at Jerusalem was. And it is true of this Church, he is so accurate a Former, as that he fashions the Dimensions of it. He is the Head, from whom the whole Body, fitly joyned together, and compacted by every joynt of supply, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love, Eph. 4.15. Yet this is not without the use of men, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, v. 12.13. So that it cannot be said, that no more is left to man about circumscribing the Dimensions of this Body; much less, that nothing more is left to Humane prudence about circumscribing the dimensions of the visible Church, universal, national, or parochial, than was to the making of mans body in the first creation, Gen. 2. This therefore is but a Rhetorical flourish from a similitude, in which though there be an agreement thus farr, that Christ is the alone framer of his Church, in respect of its inward form by the operation of his spirit; yet it is not so in respect of the outward forme, but that much of it is left to the ordering of men, as Divine providence shall guide them, and circumstances require.
The rest of his arguing is of like sort. Again, Each first Church of God is the house and building of God, 1 Cor. 3.9. Heb. 3.3.4. 1 Tim. 3.15. And what prudent housholder will permit the figure or quantity of his house, to the arbitrement, and will of others?
Answer, It is true, the Church of God, not only the universal, or particular Church, but also each believer is the house of God, not a material, but, as St. Peter speaks, 1 Pet. 2.5. a spiritual house, and it is true, that it is God that builds this house, and that Christ is the only foundation, and yet others are subordinate builders and foundations, whereof some are Master builders, and wiser than other after workmen, 1 Cor. 3.10. and foundations too in respect of their doctrine, Ephes. 2.20. And to these builders or foundations, though the faith and doctrine, upon, and by which they are to be built, is not left to mens will and choice, yet many things pertaining to the outward figure and quantity, that is the distributing of Churches into Oecumenical, National, Classical, Parochial; and the ordering of meetings for their edifications with many things pertaining to good order and decent behaviour, are left under general rules to be observed, to the prudence of governours of Gods house.
But we have more of the like stuffe. What? The corporal temple had its dreadth, and its measure described most accurately by God, shall not the spiritual have its? Wherefore then was that reed given to John? Wherefore a command to measure the Temple Rev. 11.1:
Answer, Each believer is the Temple of God, 2 Cor. 6.16. 1 Cor. 3.16. and 6.19. and this is as true of each Houshold Church, as of each Congregational Church, and it is true, that God hath by his providence described the Spiritual Temple as well as the Corporal, but he hath not given to us any such description of the outward fashion, and order the breadth and measure, that is the number, situation, disposition of the parts of the Spiritual Temple, as he did to Moses, David, Soloman, Ezra, or others of the Material Temple. A reed was indeed given to John, and a command to measure the Temple of God, Revel. 11.1. but not that John should set down the figure or quantity of each particular visible Church, or the number of persons, that are to belong to one visible Church, their nearness or remoteness of their dwelling one to another, the choice of meeting places, and of Ministers to them fixed or unfixed: these and such like things were never done by St. John, nor do Mr. Brightmans words cited by Mr. Parker import he did, but St. Johns measuring of the Temple was his understanding the extent of it, that is, how large or how narrow the Church should be in after times, in what estate of peace or persecution, what accidents should happen to it, as Mr. Mede, Mr. Brightman and others do conceive, in order to the fulfilling of that Prophesying, which by eating the little Book, Rev. 10.10, 11, he was assigned to. As for Mr. Brightmans words, (though they be not an oracle yet) they may be granted without any detriment to the thing I assert. For though it be true, as he saith, that the true Christian Church is shadowed by the type of the Old Temple, of which the several parts were of old most accurately described and measured by the command of God: to wit that men might know that this house was made by God, that it is not of humane structure: and therefore that men should not take upon themselves any whit to change things at their pleasure, as if the Heavenly wisdome had not sufficiently provided concerning the most commodious manner of each thing; yet it might be true, which I assert, that God hath not determined the distribution and order of particular Churches so, but that he hath left many things therein to humane prudence. But Mr. Parker addes some thing more. What was the visible Church of the Jewes, when that Nation was called to the faith? Rev. 21.15. moreover he who spake with me, saith John, had a golden Reed, that he might measure the City and the Gates of it, and the Wall of it, &c. He that will neglect no part of the Jewish Church, but designe most diligently the quantity, longitude, latitude, hatr he cast off all care of our Church, so as that he hath negligently left it's dimension to humane pleasure? Further, let it be marked in this last example of Divine care and wisdome, that the Church is compared to a City: And is any City so negligently administred by men, that no regard is had of limits and bounds?
Answer, That the holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending from God out of Heaven, as a Bride prepared and adorned for her Husband, is the visible Church of the Jewes, when that Nation was, or shall be called to the Faith, or that the measuring the City and the Gates of it, and the wall of it was to design the quantity of particular Churches, or the frame and order of a particular Congregation as the first visible Church, is scarce probable. To me such kinde of arguments as are framed from Jewish Church State, from their rites, and ceremonial worship to inferre duties, priviledges, and orders about the Christian visible Church-state, government and rites are of no force, as savouring more of fancy than of judgment, if Christ or his Apostles have not made those arguments before us. Yet, if any such argument were of weight, sith the Apostle, Rom. 11.25, 26. would not have us ignorant of this mistery, that blindness in part is hapned to Israel, untill the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, I might better argue for a national Church of Gods institution from the visible Church-state of the Jewes at their future calling, than for a Congregational Church. But I count neither firme, nevertheless, if God do design more diligently the quantity longitude, and latitude of the Jewish Church at their calling hereafter, and leave the dimension of our Church to humane choice, this may be done out of more special Love to them, who are in a peculiar manner beloved by reason of the Fathers, Rom. 11.28. and not out of negligence, nor so as to have cast off all care of our Church. And though the Church be compared to a City, the Heavenly Jerusalem, Heb. 12.22. yet it may agree well with Gods wisdome, and care to leave many things to the prudence of the present governours, concerning the distincton of Churches, and order of meetings; as it may suite well with the wisdome and care of a good Prince, who in his charter of incorporating a City, sets down what Officers they shall have, and what jurisdiction they shall exercise, yet leaves it to the choice of some one or more to order their Companies, meetings, and many particularities of their government as shall be found most Convenient for them. From this disgression in answer to Mr. Parker, I return to our Author.