A Little Stone Found to be Counterfeit, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 9
SECTION IX. Examination of his 2d. Medium purſued in his SECTION 34, 35, 36, 37.
section 1 His ſecond Medium is, that ſuch a Presbytery oppoſes the word. His Argument here comes to this much in ſumme. The Scriptures give in their teſtimony; not one or two but in plenty, that what power of juriſdiction or ruling an Elderſhip hath, it hath it in the ſame extent it hath its Paſtorall power, and no further; Yea, that an Officers Paſtorall power, exceeds in extent his Ruling power, rather then è contra: Therefore a Preſbytery over more Congregations then one, which extends the Paſtors ordinary ruling power beyond the extent of his ordinary Teaching, doth oppoſe the Word of God. Anſw. When a… this Argument, which is but a limme of that firſt large …re brought by th… Diſſenting B…ethren againſt the Aſſemblies third Propoſi…on co…c…ning Preſbyteriall Government, and all the confirmation… thereof brought by theſe ſame Brethren, hath already received ſo conſiderable anſwers from the Aſſembly of Divines in their Papers extant to the World; I wonder why Mr. Lockier ſhould preſent it again to us here ſo barely, without taking theſe anſwers to conſideration, or aſſaying to infringe them any wayes; Unleſſe it has been his purpoſe to de…piſe all his Readers. Well, we refer the Reader to theſe Anſwers of the Aſſembly for full ſatisfaction, and for the preſent ſay onelyonly in brief. 1. If all that is ſaid in this Argument were granted▪ yet would it not conclude ſimply againſt an Elderſhip Ruling more Congregations then one, but only againſt an Elderſhip made up of Elders fixed in their Teaching to ſeverall particular Congregations: But nothing againſt an Elderſhip conſiſting of Officers no… fixed to ſeverall particular Congregations, but Teaching and Governing in common the ſeverall Congregations aſſociated under their one Government: And likely it is, that ſo it was in the Church of Jeruſalem and others theſe firſt Churches; Certainly the contrair cannot be proven; And we think ſo it may be at thi… day, as it is indeed in ſome Reformed Churches without repugnancy to any poſitive Divine inſtitution. But, 2. granting that the Scriptures doe teſtifie, that the ordinary Ruling power of Elders is not extendended beyond their ordinary power of Teaching (for that which Mr. Lockier addeth that the Scripture holdeth forth that rather the Teaching power exceeds in extent his Ruling power, we deſire proof of it, for he brings none) we ſay that it is a miſtake which is alledged, that the Presbytery we ſpeak for, Ruling over more Congregations extends the ordinary Ruling power of Paſtours beyond the extent of their ordinary Teaching power: It does only extend the ordinary exerciſe or actus ſecundos of the one, beyond the ordinary exerciſe or actus ſecundos of the other, having herein a call to the one and not to the other, which is no incongruity, nor doth oppoſe any part of the Word of God. As for the Scriptures alledged by the Diſſenting Brethren in th…t forecited Reaſons, and from them here by Mr. Lockier, we ſtill affirm, with the Reverend Aſſembly in their Anſwers, none of the… proves the contrary, they only ſhew that all theſe things belong to their Office, and that this is the uſuall practice and work of Elders where their work lyes: But none of them prove it prohibited of God or unlawfull, for an Elder upon a call to do or exerciſe one of theſe, where they have not occaſion and a call to do the reſt. Any thing that Mr. Lockier ſayeth to the contrary of this is but his meer aſſertion, but no proof from the words of the Texts, for which I appeal to the judgement of any underſtanding man reading and conſidering the Texts themſelves: Let any man ſhew me out of theſe Scriptures any thing bearing this much, Elders rule theſe particular Congregations only, which you do ordinarily teach: So we ſhall not need to inſiſt upon them particularly, only a note upon ſomewhat ſaid by him upon ſome of them.
section 2 When as upon that, Act. 20. 28. That there were many Officers belonging to this Church of Epheſus, herein we join with him, and that it is manifeſt here was but one flock, on this wee join alſo, as to the word one flock: But that it was one ſingle flock, or Congregation only, as he meaneth, we utterly deny, and affirme it was an aſſociate flock or Church, made up of ſeverall ſingle particular Congregations; For proof and ſatisfaction herein we refer the Reader to th… …ſſemblies Anſwers to the Diſſenting Brethrens reaſons againſt the inſtance of the Church of Epheſus. And here again I muſt crave leave to ſay Mr. Lockier exceedingly contemneth his Readers, when as ſuch conſiderable Anſwers being given and extant againſt all that could bee alledged by theſe ableſt men of his ſide, to prove that there was not many, but one ſingle Congregation in Epheſus, he without any aſſay to infringe theſe Anſwers, obtrudes … bare naked Aſſertion, that it was but one. What? Muſt … to him, a… Pythagoras Diſciples to captivate their judgement and acquieſce with foreign?
section 3 Againſt his reaſoning upon this Medium, he propounds an Objection as one of our Arguments, Sect. 36. and Anſwers it, Sect. 37. Obj. Elders may Preach in this Church and that, and many particular Churches; Therefore they may, according to this you have ſaid, rule over many particular Churches. To which he Anſwers, 'tis not occaſionall Preaching which one Church by conſent and deſire may admit to another, that the Scriptures forementioned make th… bound of rule; But where mens fixed call and work (he muſt mean the work of Preaching) properly lyeth. To where I am called to Preach (he muſt mean ordinarily) this bounds, commenſurates and proportions my power as an Officer to Rule, ſo that to go beyond this, is to go beyond the Word, to oppoſe the Word. Anſ. 1. Albeit from what you have ſaid, viz. that the power of Preaching and the power of Ruling are commenſurat and of equall extent, it ſhould not follow that if Presbyters may Preach to more Congregations then one occaſionally; Therefore may Rule over more Congregations then one ordinarily. Yet it will follow they may rule over more Congregations then one, in ſuch a way as they may Preach to them: For ſay yee their Preaching and Ruling are commenſurate by Scripture; Yea further, if Elders may Preach to more Congregations then one, not only occaſionally but ordinarily, which they may (as ſuppoſe in a City where are many Congregations, the Miniſters be not fixed to them ſeverally, but teach them in common, as they may do without violation of any Divine inſtitution, and that de facto it was not ſo in the firſt Churches, nothing can be brought to demonſtrat) it will follow ſuch Elders may Rule over mo…e … out. 2. We do not make the occaſion… … more Congregations then one … r…aſo… … …hey may rule over more then one ordin…rily …, a Miniſter by Chriſts inſtitution and … Office, …s a Miniſter, and hath that office habit … to the Univerſall Viſible Church of Jeſus Chriſt, … ſingl… Congregation (ſee …his abundan…ly … the Learned Mr. Hudſon, Vin…ic. of the …ſſ… …. c. 6. pag. 138. & ſeq▪ ) …nd ſo may and … O…fice and …ny part thereof in relation to … Church, (i) particular Congregation o… … according as … promoving of the good of the whol… … and h… … particular call there … and … of Preaching be bounded … yet his … Ru…ng may be ordinar…y … Congregatio… hav… a call thereunto▪ by … that Congre…tion …nd … the… together …or … and … aſſociation … obliged to …ter …
section 4 In th… …ſt of hi… … it … are brought to …, that a Mini…e… … wor… … Preaching bounds hi… ord…nary power of … that wh… he does not that, h… …nnot do this … Theſſ. …. … … that labour among you▪ … compared with, … that …uring to be in the Wor… and … Theſe … ſayeth he, …eacheth that fixed … and … Ruling go togeth…r. Anſw. Theſe plac… … teach, … here … Preach ordinarily, over theſe … alſo … not that ove… … only they rule. Mr. Loc…ier … but proveth not, no… …an prove from the words.The Author hath it, 1. 17. I will not ſay but it may be an eſcape of the Printer. Only 'tis to be noted, that the place is …uſt ſo Printed in the Reaſons of … Diſſenting Brethr…n againſt the Aſſ…mblies 3. Propoſition co…cerning Presbyteriall Government▪ (whence th… …thor …orrow… i… …re) 1 Tim. 1. 17. where I doubt not but …he … been the Printers.
section 5 Anoth… g…ou…d …, It is not bare labouring in the Word in a place th… … Elder (…a… I conceive, that formally conſtitu… and … one a… Elder) but being over them fixed and … ſuch a ſtation over them; And then where this is pi…ched … …is …nds his work of conduct and diſcipline. … th… it is not bare labouring in the Word in a place, … conſtitu…, and denom…tes an Elder or Miniſter (… …he Word in a place, ſuch labouring … no… called to that work, And … of Chriſt) but it is as true, that n… … is, … commiſſioned to ſuch a ſtation (i.) to ſuch … that notes him or conſtitutes him a Min…ſter. … is, which notes, and conſtitutes a Miniſter …, according to th… order inſtituted by Chriſt, … with Off…ce to … the Goſpel, and to diſpence … Which Off… … … ally …, is in … …ely: And …is fi…ing to … not make him a Miniſter, bu… onl… … …o …u…h a Congregation for the conſt… and …. See this we ſay … …dantly demonſt… … H…dſo… ▪ Vindi… of the Eſſ. and Ʋniti…, &c. c. 6. pag. 138▪ …
The third thi…g he bri…geth is th… … Key… (viz. of Doctrine and Diſcipline) … diſtinguiſ…ed, ye… … divided, Chriſ… … …oined and … together: But to … where w…e are … is to divid… … …ow …ell Chriſt …ll …ke … how well men▪ … ſ…verall hundred … …ars in blood and tyranny, hath ſh…w…d … A…ſw. 1. The Key… o… Doctrine and Diſcipline are not ſo … …on from another, as the Author by his big words w…uld … his Readers in hand. 1. In the very … or actus prim… ▪ they are ſeparated; The Ruling Elder …ath the Key of Juriſd…ction or Diſcipline, and exerciſeth it, but not the Key of Doc…ine. 2. Eve… where they are …oyned together in habit, they are divided and ſeparated in act▪ The Paſtor of a Congr…gation when he …cheth doth not e…ciſe Diſcipline, nor when he exerciſeth Diſcipline or Juriſdiction doth he at that ſame time teach: Yea further; H… may and doth teach alone, but he … J…diction alone, but in combination and in colleg… with …thers. Obj. But they are divided in regard of the object by th… Presby…erian way. The Paſtor in the aſſociate Presbytery … …uriſdiction over them whom he doth not teach; And Ch…i… … joined them together in thi… relation, that t… one … …ciſed towards any, but to … the oth… is alſo … Author indeed ſayeth ſo, that Chriſt …th appointed … brought a place of Scripture … The places by him here … put home this to the Author … can exerciſe rule onelyonly in relation … where he is fixed to preach ordina…y; B…auſe … to divide th… Keyes which he alledgeth to …e even in the … …o tyed togethe… a… …e hath ſaid. But I ask him, … preach the Goſpel … other… then of his own … by going … admitting th… to … to the … the Lords … to … wayes? … this, he denyes wit… … of Chriſtians, … of theſe of one ſingle … publick Ordinanc… of Jeſus Chriſt; if he grant it, then he div…des the Keyes which … …yes Chriſt hath tyed tog…ther.
section 6 As to his bloody word, … like many others in this his little peece, a groundleſſe …ander; There have not …een ſeverall … of years, ſince that way of Government …ch we ſta…d … by Chriſt… … aſſociated Presby…s was … the Chriſtian … Which for many hundreds of years wa… …bed thereof by Po…s, and papall Prelates. And ſince by th… … …mercy it wa… reſtored to the Church, it hath been a bl…d meane, where it has had place, to preſerve the Church of Jeſu… Chriſt; But for blood, if he mean ſhedding of blood by i…, 'tis …ot a very bloody ſlander to attribute this to it: And for tyranny, I think no man qui non perfric…it fronte…, can ſay, it is a way of it ſelf inclinable to that, when as the very conſtitution of it, is to … to perſons alledging themſelves wronged, (and poſſibly wronged indeed) by the ſentence and judgement of a ſmaller Judicatory, a way of recognition and relief by a larger aſſociated Judicatory. If this be a way in it ſelf inclinable … …anny, I confeſſe I ſee not, but we may as w…ll ſay that …ard is d…ward, and dounward is upward. But now to w… the exerciſe o… the Keyes ſo together and in ſo narrow b…und…, as Mr. Lock…: would have them: That is to ſay, ſo… … of …n Elderſh…p of a particular Congregation, together wi…h their people (… be 7, 10, or 20, perſons) that they are made the … Eccleſiaſtica… on earth, and there may be no … of the Churches of Chriſt in an authoritative … any wrong whatſoever they m…y do, … and Trueth in their dogmaticall det…rm…ations, o… in t…eir … cenſures upon perſons, if this be no… a wa… … tyranny, yea and looſeneſſe, and con…uſion … l…t any man of common ſenſe judge: … proof even a few years hath given of th… … …ell: Who ma… … ſee it, and what tru… Chri… … it without b…e…ng heart and weeping eyes, … a… this day.