Five Disputations of Church Government, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. The sum of the foregoing Propositions, and the Consistency of them with the Principles of each party, and so their aptitude to Reconcile.
§. 1. THE summ of all that I have propounded is, that though we cannot, we may not embrace the Government by Prelacy, as lately exercised here in England (how confidently soever some appropriate the title of the Church of England to the adherents of that frame,) yet would we not have the Church ungoverned, nor worse governed, nor will we refuse for peace such a kind of Episcpacy as is tolerable in the Church. And there are four sorts of Exercise of the Ministry, which if you please, you may call Episcopacy, which we shall not refuse when it may conduce to Peace.
1. Parochial Bishops.§. 2. I. We shall consent that the Ancient Parochial Episcopacy be restored: that is, that in every Parish that hath a particular Church, there may be a Pastor or Bishop setled to govern it, according to the word of God: And that he may be the chief among the Presbyters of that Church, if there be any: And may assume fit men to be assisting Presbyters to him, if there be such to be had. If not, he may be content with Deacons. And these Parochial Bishops are most antient, and have the Power of Ordination.
§. 3. Yet do we not so tye a Church to a Parish, but that in places where the ignorance, infidelity, or impiety of the people, or the smalness of the Parishes is such, as that there are not fit persons enough in a Parish to make a convenient particular Church, it may be fit for two, or three, or four (in necessity) Neighbour Parishes to joyn together, and to be formed into one particular Church. The several Ministers keeping their stations, for the teaching of the rest as Catechumens, but joyning as one Presbyterie, for Governing of that one particular Church, that is Congregate among them. And having one President, without whom nothing should be done in matters left to humane determination. Yet so, that the Presbyters be not forced to this, but do it freely.
§. 4. II.2. The stated Presidents of Associated Pastors. We shall consent that these Parish Churches be Associate, and that in every Market Town (or such convenient places as shall be agreed on) there may be frequent meetings of the Pastors, for Communion and Correspondency; and that one among them be their standing Moderator durante vita, or their President (for so I would call him rather then Bishop, though we would leave men to use what name they please) And to him should be committed the Communicating of times and places of meeting, and other businesses and Correspondencies. And the Moderating of the debates and disputations.
§. 5. And for my part I would consent for peace that de facto no Ordination be made in either of the foresaid Presbyteries, without the President, but in cases of Necessity: so be it 1. That none be compelled to own any other Principle of this Practice, then a Love of Peace; and none be compelled to profess that he holdeth the President to have de jure a Negative voice: yea that all have liberty to write down on what other Principles they thus yeild, that the Practice only may suffice for Peace.
§. 6. III. We shall consent also, that one in a Deanry or Hundred, or other convenient space,3. A Visit…r of the neighbour Churches, and Countr…y. may by the Magistrate be chosen a Visitor of the Churches and Countrey about him; having Power only to take notice of the state of things, and gravely to admonish the Pastors where they are negligent, and exhort the people, and provoke them to Holiness, Reformation and Unity, only by perswasions from the Word of God. Which is no more then any Minister may do that hath opportunity: only we desire the Magistrate to design a particular person to do it (requiring Ministers and people to give him the meeting,) because that which is every mans work is not so well done, as that which is specially committed to some. And we desire that he may acquaint the Magistrate how things are.
These two to be in one man.§. 7. And to avoid the inconveniences of dividing these works, we are desirous that these two last may meet in one man: and so he that is chosen by the Pastors, the President of their Association, may be chosen his Visitor by the Magistrate, and do both; which may be done by one in every Market-town (which is truly a City in the antient sense) and the circumjacent Villages. Yet this we cannot make a standing Rule (that one man do both) because the Pastors must choose their President, and the Magistrate his Visitor; and its possible they may not alwayes concur. But if the Magistrate will not choose such a Visitor, the Pastors may. But then they can compel none to meet him or hear him.
§. 8. IV. Besides these three (or two, whether you will) before mentioned,4. General unfixed Ministers. we shall consent that there be a general sort of Ministers, such as the Apostles, Evangelists, and others in those times were, that shall have no special charge, but go up and down to preach the Gospel, and gather Churches where there are none, and contribute the best assistance of their Abilities, Interest and Authority for the reforming, confirming, and right ordering of Churches. And if by the Magistrates Command, or Ministers consent there be one of these assigned to each County, and so their Provinces prudentially distinguished and limited, we shall not dissent. Yet we would have such but where there is need.
§. 9. V. Besides these four sorts of Bishops, we are all agreed on two sorts more; 1. The Episcopi gregis, or Pastors of every Congregation, whether they have any assistant Presbyters or no, or being themselves but such assistant Presbyters. 2. The Magistrate, who is *So Constanti…e calls himself a Bishop. Euseb. vit. Co…st. l. 4. c 24. And he made his Court a Church, and assembling the people, did use to take, the holy Scriture, and deliver Divine contemplations out of it, or else he would read the Common-Prayers to the whole Congregation, cap. 17. And it is plain that it was Constantine that kept the Churches in Unity and Peace, when the Bishops else would have broken them to peices. And the Emperours frequently took down and set up Bishops at their pleasure, especially in the Patriarchial Seats as Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria.a secular Bishop, or a Governor of the Church by force. And we desire the Magistrate to be a nursing Father to the Church, and do his duty, and to keep the sword in his own hand; and for forcible deposing Ministers, or any punishment on body or estate, we desire no Bishops nor other Ministers may be authorized thereto: But if Pastors exclude an unworthy Pastor from their Communion, let the Magistrate only deprive him forcibly of his place and maintenance, if he see cause. When the Council of Antioch had deposed Paulus Samosatenus, he would not go out of the house: And all the Bishops in the Council could not force him out, but were fain to procure the Heathen Emperor Aurelian to do it. It lyeth as a blot on Cyril of Alexandria that he was the first man that arrogated and exercised there a secular Coercive Power, under the name of a Bishop of the Church.
§. 10. There is enough in this much to satisfie any moderate honest men for Church-government, and for the healing of our Divisions thereabout: And there is nothing in this that is inconsistent with the Principles of the moderare of any Party.
§. 11. 1. That a Church organized, called by some Ecclesia prima, should be no greater then I have mentioned, is not contradictory to the Principles of the Episcopall, Presbyterians, Congregationall or Erastian. Indeed the two first say, that it may be bigger: but none of them say, It must be bigger. The Presbyterians instances of the Church of Ierusalem (which s…rued to the highest, cannot be proved neer half so great as some of our Parishes▪) and such other Churches, are but for the may be, and not for the must be. And therefore if they be peaceable, this will make no breach.
§. 12. 2. That Parochial Churches and Associations have fixed Presidents, is nothing contrary to any of their Principles, as far as I am able to discern them.
§. 13. 3. That Pastors may be lawfully appointed to visit and help the Country and the neighbour Churches, and exhort them to their duty, and give the Magistrate information of their state, is a thing that none can justly blame, any more then preaching a Lecture among them. Nor do I know any party that is against it, (of these four.)
§. 14. And 4. That there may be more General Ministers to gather, and take care of many Churches, I think none of them will deny. Sure the …tinerant Ministers in Wales will not: Nor yet that these may have their Provinces distinguished. If I could imagine which of all these sorts would be denied, I would more fully prove it, yea and prove it consistent with the Principles of each party; but till then its vain.
§. 15. The only point that I remember, like to be questioned, is, the consenting to forbear Ordination in several Presbyteries, till the President be one, except in case of Nec…ssity: And nothing is here questionable, that I observe, but only Whether it be consistent with the Principles of the Congregational party, seing they would have all Ordination to be by the Elders of their own Church, and where there are none, that it be done by the people without Elders. To which I answer, 1. That we here grant them that a Congregational Presbyterie with their President may ordain an Elder for that Congregation. 2. The Moderate Congregational men do grant us that the Elders or Pastors of other Churches may lawfully be called to assist them in Ordination, though they think it be not necessary. It is not therefore against their Principles to do so. For sure they may do a Lawful thing, especially when the Churches Peace doth lie so much upon it as here it doth.
§. 16. I conclude therefore that here are healing Principles brought to your hands, if you have but healing inclinations to receive them. Here is a sufficient remedy for our Divisions, upon the account of Church-government, if you have but hearts to entertain them, and apply them. But if some on one side will adhere to all their former excesses and abuses, and continue impenitent, unchurching the best of the Protestant Churches that are not Prelatical (while they unchurch not the Church of Rome:) And if others on the other side will stifly refuse to yield in things that cannot be denied to be lawfull, yea and convenient for the Churches, and set more by all their own conceits then by the Peace of Brethren, and consequently the prosperity of the Church, we must leave the care of all to God, and content our selves that we have done our duty.