The Lawfulness of the Oath of Supremacy, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
1. The firſt Objection anſwered. 2. The Government of a particular Church, hath Affinity with that of leſſer Bodies, more than with the Government of Empires and Kingdoms.
Object.
§ 1. IT may be objected, that Churches are ſpiritual Corporations, and of a more peculiar Conſideration, in reſpect of their Government; and therefore not to be reckoned with Civil, at leaſt not with Families, or ſuch mean and low Societies.
Anſw. Policy or Government in it ſelf, and all the ſorts of it, is from the Light of Nature, and common Reaſon. And this is generally ſuppoſed by all; that tho the Subject Matter, or Perſons governed, be of different kinds; yet the Law and Forms of Government may be the ſame where ſo appointed by Chriſt. And I rather inſiſt on ſuch a way of Diſcourſe and Reaſoning, as moſt ſuitable to the Subject I am upon, but eſpecially becauſe Subordination of Churches to Churches is argued from the Light of Nature, and in this very Caſe, termed by our Brethren a Divine Topick. Now if we may argue and guide our ſelves in Church-Affairs by the Light that ſhineth forth (from the natural Wiſdom and Prudence of Man) in the Government and managing of Kingdoms; there is as much a Jus Divinum, and ground of reaſoning from the Light that appears in the prudent Conſtitution and Government of any other civil Society.
I have mentioned in the Conſiderations, Cities, Families, and thoſe leſſer, and contained (as I term them) Societies or Corporations with particulars Churches: Becauſe I humbly conceive the Policy and Government of each (tho in other things different) to be more proportionable, and of greater Similitude in many things, then between particular Churches, and thoſe greater, and containing Bodies, Kingdoms, Empires, or the like. Churches thus humbly conſtituted and governed, are moſt conſiſtent with Civil Magiſtracy, of what Form ſoever the Common-wealth ſhall be.
In Confirmation of this Agreement or Similitude, I ſhall take for the moſt part the Conceſſions of the learned of each Perſwaſion. The Inſtances or Particulars are theſe.
§ 2. 1. Families tho contained under the National Government where they are ſinuated, yet are intruſted with a ruling and governing Power compleat and ſufficient each in and for it ſelf; ſo are particular Churches.
1. They are intruſted with a Government each for it ſelf.
It is not ſufficient (ſaith Mr. Perkins) for a Church to have the preaching of the Word, Perk. on Rev. 2.20.but Church-Government. This Church (ſpeaking of Thyatira) is blamed becauſe ſhe did not uſe the Authority God had given her. There is given to the Miniſters of each particular Congregation, according to Epiſcopal Ordination eſtabliſhed by our Law, not only a Power to preach, &c. [Take Authority to preach the Word of God] but they are made Rectors, Governours in thoſe particular Churches, and it's ſaid to them, [Whoſe Sins thou doſt remit, they are remitted; and whoſe Sins thou doſt retain, they are retained] by which Words the Keys of Diſcipline are given them; ſee Bilſon Perpet. Govern. p. 213. By Order of the Church of England (ſaith Biſhop Ʋſher) all Presbyters are charged to adminiſter the Doctrine and Sacraments, Reduct. of Epiſc. p. 2.and the Difcipline of Chriſt as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Realm hath received the ſame. And that they might the better underſtand what the Lord hath commanded therein, the Exhortation of St. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Epheſus is appointed to be read unto them at the time of their Ordination: Take heed to your ſelves, and to all the Flock among whom the Holy Ghoſt hath made you Overſeers, to *foreign ſo taken in Mat. 2.6. and Rev. 12.5. and 19.15. Ho. Eccl. Pol. lib. 3. Sect. 1.rule the Congregation of God, which he hath purchaſed with his Blood.
Mr. Hooker tells us that for Preſervation of Chriſtianity there is not any thing more needful than that ſuch as are of the viſible Church have mutual Fellowſhip and Society one with another. In which Conſideration the Catholick Church is divided into anumber of diſtinct Societies, every of which is termed a Church within it ſelf, not an Aſſembly, but a Society, — A Church (as we are now to underſtand it) is a Society, that is, a number of Men belonging to ſome Chriſtian-Fellowſhip, the Place and Limits whereof are certain, having communion in the publick Exerciſe of ſuch Duties as are mentioned, Acts 2.47. As thoſe of the Myſtical Church by their inward Graces differ from all others which are not of the Body, and thoſe that are of the viſible Body of the Church, have the Notes of external Profeſſion. Even ſo theſe ſeveral Societies, or Churches, have Properties belonging to them, as they are publick Chriſtian Societies. And of ſuch Properties, it may not be denied that one of the very chiefeſt is Eccleſiaſtical Policy. We uſe the name of Policy rather than Government, becauſe Church-Policy containeth both Government, and alſo whatſoever beſides belongeth to the ordering of the publick Affairs of the Church of God. In which words he aſſerts not each particular Church to have Government in it ſelf; but this Government as a Property, or Propriety, by which it's diſtinguiſhed from the Myſtical, as alſo the Catholick viſible Church. So that he doth not, as ſome of late, make the Catholick viſible Church the firſt Subject of the Keys; but each particular Society, or Church, ſuppoſing that great Body of Chriſtians to be only and immediately under the Spiritual Government of Chriſt Jeſus.
2. Compleat and ſufficient.
It is not to be underſtood of ſuch a perfection, as may not with much advantage receive help both from the Power of the Magiſtrate, as I have ſhewed before, as alſo from the Counſel and Advice of other Churches: But I mean an eſſential Compleatneſs or Sufficiency, not being deficient in any material requiſite for Government. This that learned Author expreſſeth in thoſe laſt Words: 'We uſe the Word Policy, (ſaith he) rather than Government, becauſe Church-Policy containeth both Government, and alſo whatever beſides belongeth to the ordering of the Affairs of the Church of God. Every particular Church, Againſt Whitgiſt, lib 3, pag. 147.(ſaith Mr. Cartwright) having an Elderſhip, is a Catholick Church of Chriſt, under whom Paſtors, Doctors, and Elders are the miniſterial and immediate Governors. In which Words he intimateth a Compleatneſs in each particular Church for Government and Privileges, as much as if the Catholick viſible Church were Organical,Rutherf. Due Right or Preſbyt. pag. 307. and a governing Church. The Power of Juriſdiction (ſaith one) is as perfect and compleat in one ſingle Congregation, as in a Provincial, as in a National, yea, as in the Catholick viſible Body. All Things are yours, ſaith Paul to a particular Church, 2 Cor. 3.Parker's Polit. lib 3. cap. 13. To this purpoſe Mr. Parker: Sicut non para, &c. As a particular Church is not a maimed or half, but a whole and perfect Body; ſo it is poſſeſſed with the whole and entire Church-Government, and not with a part only.
This Oeconomick and Domeſtick Power is intrinſick and eſſential to a Family,2d Inſtance. and is a Power derived immediatly from the Lord, by the Light of Nature, and hath not its original from any Power on Earth, Families being much more ancient than Common-Wealths: So Government or Diſcipline is intrinſick and inſeparable from the very Eſſence of a Church, received immediately from Chriſt, and not the Grant or Conſtitution of any Secular Prince or State.Jackson of the Church, cap. 8. § 5. Churches are endued (ſaith Dr. Jackson) with a Judicature immediately derived from Chriſt, and independent upon any Earthly Power, or any Power whatſoever on Earth, whether Spiritual or Temporal. Bilſon of Suprem. p. 171.Biſhop Bilſon expreſſeth it thus: The Things compriſed in the Church, and by God himſelf commanded to the Church, (theſe Things are ſpecified in pag. 227. to be the Word, Sacraments, and Ʋſe of the Keys, or Eccleſiaſtical Power, and Cure of Souls) are ſubject to no mortal Creature, Pope, nor Prince. And thoſe of another Perſuaſion, are to the ſame purpoſe. The Church (ſaith Mr. Rutherford) hath the Keys from Chriſt,Peaceable Plea, p. 300. equally independent upon any mortal Man, in Diſcipline as in Doctrine.Due Right of Presbyt cap. 9. § 9. A Power and Right to Diſcipline, ſaith the ſame Author, is a Property eſſential to a Church, and is not removed from it, till God remove the Candleſtick, and the Church ceaſe to be a viſible Church. Poteſtas ipſa de jure, &c. Power (ſaith Dr. Ames) is ſo much the Right of a Church, Caſ. cen. lib 4. cap. 24. p. 4.as it cannot be ſeparated, becauſe neceſſary, and immediatly floweth even from the Eſſence of each true Church. There are Authorities enow to be produced from the Writings of the Learned, for the confirmation of this particular. All grant there is a Government jure divino, (I ſpeak not of this or that Form) and by the appointment of Jeſus Chriſt. It is denied by none but Eraſtus, and thoſe that follow him, who may as well deny Praying, Preaching, or Sacraments jure divino It is as expreſly ordained, that Diſcipline be exerciſed in the Name of Chriſt, as to preach, pray, or baptize in his Name. There are certainly Things of God, that are not the Things of Caeſar: And if thoſe Things upon which Chriſt hath put his Name, be not peculiarly his, I know not where we ſhall find the Joint. As we ſay, there were Families, ſo particular Churches, before any Commonwealths were, and Chriſtian Churches and Diſcipline exerciſed, many Years before any Emperors or Kings were Chriſtian: And therefore as Families have many Privileges ſo peculiar, and by the Law of Nature ſo much theirs, as are never touched or infringed by the Supreme Power of any Nation: So likewiſe it is with Churches, they have very many Privileges ſo evidently theirs, from the Law of Chriſt, and their ſpiritual Conſtitution, as Chriſtian Magiſtrates will do their utmoſt to preſerve and cheriſh, and not in the leaſt infringe. It is a part of Magna Charta: Conceſſimus Deo, & hac preſenti Charta confirmavimus, 3 Hen. 3. cap. 1.pro nobis & Heredibus noſtris in perpetuum, quòd Eccleſia Anglicana libera ſit, & habeat omnia jura ſua integra, & Libertates ſuas illaeſas. And it is mentioned in the Oath our Kings take at their Coronation, that He ſhall keep and maintain the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Holy Church.
A third Particular,3d Inſtance. or Inſtance of what we have ſuppoſed in the former Conſiderations, is this: The leſſer Corporations, Cities, Families, and the like, have not Authority or Juriſdiction one over another. It is the ſame with Churches, each having the Fountain and Original of their own Power (as before is ſhewed) immediatly proceeding from Chriſt in themſelves, and not elſewhere, or one from another; cannot by any Art or Device of Man be made to riſe up above it ſelf, as it doth, if one Church exerciſeth a Power or Juriſdiction over another. There is no Invention of Man, that by contriving Pipes, or any other Artifice, can make Water freely and naturally run higher than the Spring-Head. Tho that Juriſdiction which hath its riſe in a particular Church, be pumped up into a Claſſis or Synod, it is but the ſame it was before. Synods, ſaith Parker out of Chamier, Polit lib. 3. cap. 13 § 9. Diſp de Polit. Eccleſ. p. 5.nullam habeant Authoritatem, &c. They have no Authority but what is derived from particular Churches. So Voetius.
There ſeems to be a great Emphaſis in thoſe Particles of Propriety, Children obey your Parents, foreign; ſo to Servants:1 pheſ. 6.1. And ſpeaking of the Relation of Husbands and Wives, by which is ſet forth our Obedience to Chriſt and his Officers, it is more appropriate, Epheſ. 5.24. As the Church is ſubject to Chriſt, ſo let the Wives be to their own Husbands; it is, foreign, propriis viris, not only theirs, but their own Husbands. It is ſaid, 1 Tim. 3.4. One that ruleth well his own Houſe, foreign. So of Miniſters, Know them that labour among you, foreign, and are ever you in the Lord, 1 Theſſ. 5.12. and in Heb. 13.17. it is foreign, Duces veſtri, your Captains, Officers in Churches, being as exactly limited, as in an Army. There is no Power in a Superior to command, where no Obligation upon the Inferior to obey. And therefore the Lord ſeems by theſe Expreſſions, to limit both Church and Family-Power within their own Walls.
This is the Judgment of the Learned of each Perſuaſion. Biſhop Davenant. Nota eſt Juriſconſultorum regula, &c. It is a known Rule of Lawyers, A Sentence given by him that is not his Judg, is void in Law. But particular Churches are not the Judges of private Perſons that are of other Churches, how much leſs then over the Churches themſelves; ſuch Sentences were to be ſlighted and contemned, as of a Judg that preſumeth to make Laws out of the bounds of his own Juriſdiction. Nec poteſt, De judice cont. cap. 16. p. 90.nec debet (ſaith the ſame Author elſewhere) particularis una Eccleſia judiciaria authoritate aliam ſibi non ſubjectam a Catholica abſcindere, quaelibet enim Eccleſia filios ſuos ad conſenſionem in Doctrina publicè ſtabilita cenſuris adigit. Sed fratres Eccleſiarum externarum monet pro officio charitatis, non punit pro imperio poteſtatis. Dr. Field, Of the Church lib 5.as a common Reſolution of Divines, tells us, That if a Biſhop ventures to do any Act of Juriſdiction out of his own Dioceſs, (that is, his particular Church, ſo cap. 30.) as to excommunicate or abſolve, or the like, all ſuch Acts are utterly void, and of no force. The ſame thing, ſaith Dr. Crakanthorp, cont. Spal. cap. 28. pag. 177.Jue divinum Regim. p. 230. Every Congregation (ſay our Brethren) hath equal Power one as much as another, according to the trite and known Axiom, Par in parem non habet imperium, An Equal hath no Power over an Equal. Eccleſiae inſtitutae parochiales integrae ſunt, Diſp. de Polit. Eccleſ. p. 3.inter ſe collaterales, & poteſtate Eccleſiaſtica aequales, ſaith Voetius. Which you may Engliſh out of the Engliſh Puritaniſm thus: Particular Churches are in all Matters equal, and are entruſted by Chriſt with the ſame Eccleſiaſtical Power and Authority. Cap. 2. § 3.Jewel, Reynolds, Whitaker, and moſt of our Divines, againſt the Papiſts, are large in their Diſputes for a parity of Churches, and Mr. Parker hath written a whole Chapter de paritate Eccleſiarum. De Polit lib 3. cap. 21.Some make a particular Church to be of larger Extenſion, as a Dioceſs, a Province, &c. but that altereth not the State of the Queſtion.