A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 5 · Section 13
Sect. 13. Headship of the Church under Christ, is not monstrous.
It is added: This is that some say, Obj. 1. That they acknowledge another Head besides Christ, cannot indeed be denied: but the Headship owned and acknowledged by them, is an Headship only under Christ. To which we answer: Answ. 1. But this Headship is either of Christs appointment, or 'tis not: if it be, let it be shewn where it was instituted by him, and (as we said) this controversie is at an end: if it be not, the assertion of such an Headship, even in subordination to Christ over his Churches as such, hinders not; but persons owning, submitting thereunto, are guilty of denying the Kingly Office of Christ. 2. The Headship pleaded for by the Church of Rome, is no other. 3. 'Tis not so, as is pretended, they own an Headship that is not in all things subordinate to Christ, having a Law-making, and Law-giving power touching institutions of Worship, that never came into his heart, are flatly against his appointments, as hath been proved. 4. One Head in subordination to another, doth as really make the Body a Monster, as two Heads conjoined.
Answ. 1. The term [Head of the Church] is not used in the Oath of Supremacy, but Supreme Governour; and this is agreeable to Scripture, Rom. 13.1. 1 Tim. 2.2. 1 Pet. 2.13. and how out of these and other Scriptures, his Government is proved in that sense, in which it is asserted by the Ministers, is shewed by me in my Book of the serious consideration of the Oath of the Kings Supremacy in the proof of the fourth and fifth Propositions; and if the Church as the Church be comprised under every soul, Rom. 13.1. they are Governours of the Church as the Church; that is, as they are a Company of m…n that profess Faith in Christ. Not as if we acknowledged that Kings had a lawful power to prescribe another Faith or Worship besides Christs; but as Physitians are said to be subject to the King as Physitians, because he can prescribe rules with penalties in the use of that Art they practise, according to Hippocrates his Aphorisms; so the King is Governour over the Church as such, by prescribing rules about the profession and exercise of that Faith and Worship they learn only from Christ, in things undetermined by him, and serving for the ends which they are to aim at. Nor do I perceive that in so doing any more i… usurped by them, than is ascribed by this Author unto the Church, from Mat. 18.17, 18. mistaken by him; and therefore owning such a power under Christ, as given to the Church, is as much a denial of Christs Kingly Office, as when it is given to the King; yea, it is more absurd to ascribe such a power to the Church over the Church as such, than to ascribe it to the King; it being a confounding of Governours and Governed, Head and Body, which were monstrous. 2. Though I deny not that the Headship pleaded for by the Church of Rome, is pretended to be under Christ, and the Pope terms himself Vicar of Christ; yet it is in the foregoing Section shewed, that they usurp a power not only equal, but in some respects rather superiour to Christs, in their dispensing with the keeping of lawful Oaths, and allowing of incestuous Marriages, none of which is claimed by those whom the Ministers acknowledge as Heads besides Christ; and therefore it is false, that the Headship pleaded for by the Church of Rome, is no other than what the Ministers own. 3. His proofs have been examined before, and shewed defective. 4. The terms Head and Body being used only metaphorically; there's no more monstrosity in making a Head under a Head, than in making a Governour under a Governour, used by St. Peter 1 Epist 2.13, 14. or making more Fathers of the Church one under another.