A Little Stone Found to be Counterfeit, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 10
SECTION … Examination of Mr. Lockiers 3d Medium, purſued in SECTION 38, and 39.
section 1 HIs third Medium to … that a Preſbytery havin… …ower of juriſdiction over … Congregations then on…, is … device of man and not a… ordinance of God, is, that … deſtroy… …he end for which Church power and juriſdiction is, & to which it pretends. In the proſecution whereof …t is a mater of wo…d…r …o ſee, what confuſion, looſeneſſe of re…ſoning, and (I may ſay alſo) none-ſenſe there is. 'Tis not worth the while to inſiſt on …he Obſervation of every particular th… …ight …e obſerved▪ In ſumme he bringeth three conſiderations to make … out, that ſuch Preſbyteries deſtroyes or …ludes the end of Church power and juriſdiction to which it pre…ndeth. One i… in Sect. 38. two others in the following Sections.
section 2 Firſt: Theſe ſojourning Elderſhip… (ſojourning Elderſhips we know not what, nor where … many aſſociating Co… … in common) while thus pret…nding … like the la…wing …aw off … their young, my meaning is, … it takes off people … that which … groun… may warr… … a riddle to … What … pronoune their, relate… … to the lapwing, or to the peop… … of them be ſaid I cann… … Againe, for that which … &c. Wh… … Congre…tion … …terie tak… … of … Or in … buſine… of comm… … contraver…ed, … and that not to … And …ow … Author … ends (i.) … then … of … on to … followeth.
section 3 … have many … which are … then … of a Congr…ion, … of … take … people, … with ot…ers of greater par… and ſo is … here yet …nd the for… riddle… cleared. But to … 1. That there may be more able … then a particular Congregation… I think … will … …eny: And ſurely it cannot …e denyed in … th…re this is a ground, whereupon … it is … that beſides the Presbyterie of a … Congregation, there ſhould be ſuch more ample Presbyteri… … unto wh… …courſe may be had in caſe of ſuppoſed … of the Elderſhip of a particular▪ Congr…gation… and to which, particular Elderſhips, may themſelves… … caſes or caſes controverſall amongſt … ſuch particular Elderſhips … ſubject …no Supe…iour authorit… … hold forth the plurality … Presbyterie above the Presbytery … as an object or ground to … …all, that were …deed to … …old it forth … a more … …ght determi…tions in maters … the holding … of fleſh, … but … that … neceſſity of the … 4. p…g. 2. and if it … …orth … of … thoritative Synod… … as held forth ſo …: But … …dicious … to … Congregation… … 60. or 40. … p…ſons) ſubject to the jud… … tryall … of no… … Eccleſiaſtic… … …rth, be not … ſ…are to … greater …oth, and …eader to … fleſh … to hold forth unto them … a ſingle Congregation▪ … particular Congregation… … Let judi…ious … to licence, to do … out being lya… to be … ſay, which of theſe is likeſt to prov… a gaudy and taking ſnare upon fleſh and blood.
section 4 But go we on to the teſt of this Sect. Let Miniſters, Doctors, &c. men of never ſo great Lear…ing be in a ſojourning (we ſay aſſociate) Preſbytery; Yet the Perſbytery … Congregation is like in reaſon to be more learned in the b…ineſſe of their particular members which offend, then ſtrangers; Becauſe they are eye witneſſes of perſons and things; and have by intimate converſation advantage to Judge of Men and matters concerning them more then others. Here …deed lyeth the … (ſuch as it is) of the thing that the … would have …aid, to make out his 3. proof againſt Presbyteries over more Congregations then one, viz. that they deſtroy and elude the end of Church power and juriſdiction to which they pretend. For Anſw. 1. This reaſon if it have truth and force in it, is as much againſt any Synod whatſoever, even their own conſultative … as againſt authoritative Synods and Presbyteries o… … Congregations. For thus I may well reaſon againſt the uſe of ſuch conſultative Synods upon the ſame very ſuppoſit… …dged by Mr. Lockier here. Conſultative Synods, are no … of God, but a dev…e of man, becauſe they elude the end where… they pretend▪ to wit, finding out more clear and ſatisfactory …ght conce…ning difficult matters in particular Congregation…: Nay; Becauſe let never ſo many able Miniſters, Elders, and other Chriſtians be in ſuch a Synod, yet the Presbyter… of the particular Congregation is like in reaſon to be more learned in the buſineſſe of their particular members then, &c. And ſo are more able to give light and reſolution it ſuch matters, then ſtrangers in a Synod can do. But 2. This Argument runneth upon ſundry …acit and ſuppreſſed falſe ſuppoſitions and miſtakes. As, 1. it is ſuppoſed that the only matter which Synods can ha… to co…oſ… upon, and determine, are buſineſſes of the exerciſe of Diſ…p…e about particular members of particular Congregations: This is a great miſtake: For beſides buſineſſes of the exerciſe of Diſcipline about particular members of Congregations, there are firſt matters of faith and of the Worſhip of God, to be defined from the Word of God; And contrary …rrors, hereſies, and corruptions to be condem…ed and declared againſt. Secondly, there are matters of externall order and policy, which are determinable by the true light of nature, right reaſon, and generall Rules in the Scripture, about which is exerted that power which is called Diatactick; there are alſo tryalls and ordinations of Miniſters. Now I do not think that Mr. Lockier will take it upon him, to averre, that the Elders of a ſingle Congregation are like in reaſon to be more learned, and ſo more advantaged to judge in matters of this kind, then all the able choiſe men, Miniſters, and Elders from many Congregations aſſembled together in a Synod, or in a Claſſicall Presbytery. 2. He inſinuateth alſo this ſuppoſition, that in buſineſſes of Diſcipline about particular perſons there is no other matter to be cognoſced and determined, but Queſtions of meer fact; For, he ſpeaks of ſuch matters as are known and diſcerned by ſenſe, and whereof men are eye-witneſſes. This is another miſtake. For often times in ſuch buſineſſes are involved intricat Queſtions of Law or (Juris) as frequent experiences in the exerciſes and proceſſes of Diſcipline, prove daily. As, ſuppoſe the phyſicall being, or doing of an act alledged upon a perſon, as ſcandall, be found proven, for example, that he has eaten Swines fleſh before a weak beleeving Jew: Yet there may be this Queſtion of Law whether ſuch an act ſo circumſtantiat, be under the kind of a ſcandall: Upon reſolution of which doth depend the convicting of a perſon guilty of a ſcandalous fact. And again, ſuppoſe a perſon be found unqueſtionably guilty of a ſcandalous fact, yet there may be Queſtion of the demerit and weight of it in relation to cenſure: Now altho it be true, that the Presbytery of a particular Congregation is like to be more Learned, as to matters of meer fact in buſineſſes of particular members; Yet it can hardly be ſaid in reaſon, that 'tis like they will be more learned in Queſtions of Law involved therein, then many choiſe able men from many Congregations. 3. He inſinuateth alſo a ſuppoſition that the Elderſhip of a Congregation being more learned or underſtanding in the buſineſſe of their members (which yet can reaſonably be ſuppoſed only for matters of fact) that there can be no other ground of conveniency and expediency to bring their matters to be judged by a more ample Elderſhip over more Congregations; Which alſo is falſe: Where as a Claſſical Presbytery or Synod is not like in judging to be ſo liable to perſonall prejudice againſt the accuſed, nor ſo likely to be ſwayed with fear or favour, o… …miſter reſpects. And as for the learning and knowledge that the Elders of the particular Congregation have or may have in the buſineſſe of their members, more then other Elders, may not all that by them be communicate to a Claſſick Presbytery and Synod, themſelves being included in it as a part? 4. I adde but this, ſuppoſe the Elderſhip of a Congregation may be more learned in the buſineſſes of their members, yet I ſuppoſe (that which is not unuſuall to fall out) there may be differences among the Elders, or between the Elders and the people (who, according to Mr. Lockier, may have as much hand and more, in the juriſdiction, as the Elders) or both may be divided in their judgements, that nothing can be concluded amongſt them: What will you have done in ſuch a caſe? By all theſe may ſufficiently appear the weakneſſe of his firſt ground to prove that aſſociat Elderſhips of more Congregations deſtroye and elude the end of Church power and Juriſdiction. Come we to the ſecond.
section 5 His prefaces to it with a big word, as if ſome great matter were to be brought forth, 'tis good to enquire wiſely into this matter, as Solom. ſaith, what is an inſtitution of God into ſuch an end. Who would not look for ſome great matter here; Let's ſee then the product of this wiſe enquirie. If the power at home in the particular Congregation be the inſtitution of God for its own affairs, this ſhall diſcern better, and judge better, and heal better, then all the Learned Aſſemblies in world, which people litle looke after, whilſt this great noiſe is made with men of ſo great parts and worth, which ſojourning Preſbyteries aſſemble withall. Parturiunt montes, &c. Anſw. If this reaſon have any force, it alſo militats as well againſt all Synods, even conſultatory as well as juridicall. It ſhall follow, it was a wrong courſe they of Antioch took, to carry their controverſie to the Synod of Jeruſalem. Why? By Mr. Lockiers theologicall reaſoning here, the power at home in the particular Congregation of Antioch (if it was a particular Congregation, as theſe of our Authors mind may ſuppoſe it to have been) being an inſtitution of God for its own affairs, it could diſcern better, judge better, and heal better their controverſie then all the learned Aſſemblies in the world, and ſo then that at Jeruſalem, &c. 2. But what if the matter to be diſcerned, judged and healed be not the particular Congregations own (i.) proper affairs; but common, equally concerning other Congregations alſo. 3. But the grand, and I may ſay too, groſſe ſophiſme, here is a clear petitio Quaeſiti, a begging of the thing mainely in Queſtion, that only the Judicature of a particular Congregation is of Divine inſtitution, and an aſſociate Presbytery Claſſicall or Synodicall is not of Divine inſtitution, unleſſe this be ſuppoſed, the conſequence is null. One Ordinance inſtituted of God for one end doth not make void and uſeleſſe, another Ordinance inſtituted for that ſame end: But we ſay that an aſſociate Presbytery of more Congregations is inſtituted of God, as well as that of a particular Congregation. The contrary of this, Mr. Lockier ſhould have proven, and not barely ſuppoſed, and upon that ſuppoſition alledged that the power in the particular Congregation being inſtituted of God, ſhall do better then any Presbytery of that kind.
section 6 Thirdy (ſaith he) in the nature of the the thing, 'tis a courſe which caſteth thoſe which ſubject to it upon a multiplication of appeals, and references forth and back from the Seſſion to the Synod, &c. and whether this looks like Scripture Ordinance, or like the thing it pretends to, an effectuall removall of burden and offences, whilſt it thus hurryes poor people up and down, let Chriſtians judge: This is ne quid detrimenti capiant capita Eccleſiae:—it may be, the cryes of this and ſuch like, is come up into the ears of the Lord, and ah alas, that good men ſhould be deaf. Anſw. 1. This reaſon what ever it ſayeth, ſayeth nothing againſt the being of Presbyteries over more particular Congregations, the unlawfulneſſe of which is the thing Mr. Lockier in his Aſſertion undertooke to prove, but againſt the ſubordination of the leſſer Presbyteries unto the greater. 2. Neither ſayeth it any thing to purpoſe againſt this point: But in effect, is rather a cavillation then ſolide reaſoning. The ſubordination of leſſer Presbyteries unto greater, as of Congregationall to Claſſicall, of both to Synodicall; Presbyteries, in the nature of the thing caſteth not perſons upon needleſſe multiplication of appeals, nor Judicators upon needleſſe multiplication of references. But provides a courſe for relief to perſons, when they are, or may be probably, wronged by the ſentence of a leſſer Presbytery, by appeal to the cognition and judgement of a greater: And an help to leſſer Presbyteries, by having recourſe by reference to the judgement and authority of a greater; When ſuch help is needfull for them, as when they …nd difficultie in their affairs, either through darkneſſe or weightineſſe of the matter, or through differences or diviſions amongſt themſelves, or through power and prevalency of perſons with whom they have to do in the exerciſe of their authority: And if this be not more agreeable to Scripture, and a way more likely to remove offences out of the Church of Chriſt, then to put ſuch an Independent power in the hands of a ſingle Congregation (may be, of 50. or, 40. or, 20. or fewer perſons) …at if they ſhall Excommunicat a perſon, and ſo deprive him of …he fellowſhip of all Churches in the World, or determine, maintain, and teach Idolatrie, and groſſeſt Hereſie; There ſhall be no power on earth in an Eccleſiaſticall authoritative way, to cognoſce upon and redreſſe what they do amiſſe; Let all Chriſtians judge. But that way of ſubordination of leſſer Presbyteries to greater, and of appeals is very agreeable unto, and warranted by the Scriptures of God, has been ſufficiently demonſtrated, and vindicat againſt all the exceptions of oppoſers, by ſundry Learned Writers*See Mr. Gilleſp. Aſſer. of the Govern. of the Church of Scotland, Aſſemblies Anſw. Jus Divin., that we need not inſiſt more on it, till we hear more from Mr. Lockier then is ſaid againſt it here. As to that, this is ne quid detrimenti, &c. we ſay plainly 'tis but ſlandering, not reaſoning. We acknowledge no capita Eccleſiae, but one head, Jeſus Chriſt, and that all his Miniſters, are pari conſortio praediti & honoris & poteſtatis. And I beſeech you Sr. what is the emolument, that any Miniſters may reap by the ſubordination of leſſer Aſſemblies or Presbyteries unto greater, in regard of which they might be ſaid to receive detriment, if the Government were otherwayes, to wit, Independent in ſingle Congregations? Indeed if they ſhould look to their temporary emolument, they might ſee much reaſon to imbrace the Independent way, as that which were the fitteſt means ne quid detrimenti caperent, as any body may eaſily diſcern, and I conceive ſome knowes well enough by experience. As to that which is ſpoken in the end of this Sect. againſt this way of Eccleſiaſtick Government allowing appeals from leſſer Preſbyteries to greater, as raiſing cryes that have come up into the ears of the LORD, we ſhall ſay no more but this, if any men, at any time, or any where, in managing that Government, have intangled and perplexed perſons rather then extricated and iſſued their diſtreſſe, and thereby raiſed cryes into the ears of the LORD, by oppreſſion of perſons, that is nothing againſt the thing it ſelf. Sinfull men will abuſe even the beſt of Divine inſtitutions, and may be, there are not wanting cryes comming up to the ears of the LORD by oppreſſion of perſons in managing of the Independent power of Congregations: Sure I am, it is more apt an hundreth fold to cauſe ſuch cryes. 'Tis a remarkable Story Mr. Caudrey hath to this purpoſe, in his Epiſtle before his Vindic. Vindicia. in the fourth inſtance of miſchievous conſequences of the Independent way, I need not tranſcribe it, but refers the Reader to the place: But now ſeeing Mr. Lockier directeth this bitter charge againſt the thing it ſelf in its own nature (ſo he propounds in the beginning of his third Reaſon) we ſhall comfort our ſelves in this, that it is no new thing and ought not to ſeem ſtrange to us, that ſin is imputed to the truth and pure Ordinances of God, by adverſaries, and Gods anger alledged to be drawn on by cleaving to the ſame. We remember how Hezekiah was upbraided upon this account, Iſ. 37. 7. 10.