The Independents Catechism, Part 1
THE INDEPENDENTS CHATECHISME.
Quest.
WHat Government hath Chriſt Ordained in the Church of Jeruſalem, and in the reſt of the Primitive Churches, to be a patrern unto all Churches for Government, Doctrine, and manners unto the end of the World?
Anſw. A Presbyterian Government, that is, by a Common-Councell of Presbyters (as in the Originall) or more plainely of a Religious, grave, ſolid, learned, and wiſe Councell of divines and miniſters, as was in the Aſſembly, Act. 1. 15. unto whom Chriſt had given the power of the keyes, Mat. 18. 16. 17. 18. That this was the Government eſtabliſhed in the Church, plainely appeares by theſe texts of Scripture, Act. 14. 23. Act. 20. 17. 28. Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 7. 24. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Jam. 5. 14. Act. 15. 6. 22. Act. 16. 4. Act. 21. 17. The objections made by the Independent Brethren, concerning the qualification of the Presbyters are punctually confuted in the Drs Treatiſe page 19. to the 29. Shewing that there is no expectation of miracles in our times, though the Apoſtles and Primitive Presbyters were extraordinarily gifted for the confirmation of the truth of the Goſpell to all ſucceeding ages: Chriſt himſelfe proclaimes thoſe bleſſed that believe without ſeeing of miracles, Iohn 20: 29. This qualification in the Apoſtles, and primitive Presbyters is continued unto the end of the World in the Presbyters and Miniſters of the Goſpell. Viz. the power of order, and preachings and the power of Juriſdiction, or rulings: Becauſe what ſoever is written, is for our inſtruction.
Quest. Were there many congregations, and Aſſemblies in the mother Church of Ieruſalem, which in our dialect are called Churches: or did the multitudes of beleevers in Ieruſalem make but one congregation, as the Independents ſuppoſe?
Anſw. Theſe plaine texts of Scripture following do clearely prove that the many ten thouſands of believers, converted by Iohn Baptist, by Chriſt, his Apoſtles, the 70. diſciples and the reſt of the primitive Presbyters, could never meet together in one, 10. or ſcarcely in 100. congregations to partake of all acts of worſhip to aedification, as …ppeares by the multitude of beleevers mentioned, in Mat. 3. 1. 2. 5. 6. Mat. 7. 12. Luke 16. 16. Luke 7. 29. Iohn 7. 31. 40. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. Acts 2. from the 37. to the end of the chapter. Acts 4. 4. Act. 5. 14. Act. 6. 1. 2. 3. 7. Act. 21. 20. to ſuppoſe theſe multitudes could meet in one congregation to be edifyed is not agreeable to ſenſe or reaſon. Becauſe there were above one hundred preachers, and miniſters beſides the Apoſtles, and all theſe continually taken up in praying & preaching unto thoſe many ten thouſands of believers diſtributed into ſeverall congregations, that poſſibly they might edifie their preachers being all ſo employed, they could not leave their miniſtry to ſerve tables, Acts 6. 2. Therefore of neceſſity ſo many miniſters muſt have ſeverall places to preach in, and thoſe multitudes of believers be diſtributed into ſeveral congregations for them to preach to, and ſeverall places to baptize in, other-wiſe there would have beene great confuſion.
For but one of them could ſpeake at once to aedification. Theſe plaine teſtimonyes of Scripture above cited may convince the Independents error.
Becauſe they clearely take away the Foundation of their New-Churches which are built upon this miſtake, that there were no more believers in the Church of Ieruſalem then could meet in one congregation.
Four we…ke objections to that purpoſe are punctually confuted by the Dr. from page 42. unto the 53. page.
Quest. Were not all thoſe hundred preachers and the many ten thouſands of believers ſo ſcattered abroad in the perſecution we read of, Act. 8. 1. 2. 3. That there was left no more believers in Ieruſalem then could meet in one congregation?
Anſw. By that place is meant all the preachers, and miniſters onelyonly, except the Apoſtles, as it appeares, Acts 8. 4. they that were ſcattered abroad, went to and fro preaching the Word: As for the people, they were many of them caſt into priſon, and it is moſt probable that the reſt were in their owne houſes, there is not any mention made of their being ſcattered abroad; if they had, they had no Call to preach; now the text ſaith they did preach that were ſcattered abroad. But by their abiding in Ieruſalem the Apoſtles had both entertainment and ſafety, without them they could not have ſecur'd themſelves from the wolves: And the Apoſtles care was ſuch of feeding the ſheepe of Chriſt, that they continued in Ieruſalem to comfort and ſupport the Church; And refreſh the believers in this heat of perſecution: when they wanted the helpe of their faithfull miniſters, and Paſtors.
Quest. Who Govern'd, ordered, and ruled this Church conſiſting of ſo many congregations and aſſemblies?
Anſw. The Apoſtles and Presbyters (as in the Originall.) Act. 7. 19. 29. 30. Act. 15. 2. 4. 6. 22. Act. 16. 4. 5. Act. 21. 17, 18, 25. And howſoever the Apoſtles in the places above ſpecified are differenc'd by that title from the Presbyters, yet in all acts of Government performed by them in the Church of Ieruſalem, they were for the ſubſtance of them ordinary acts ſuch as Presbyters dayly perform. And therefore the Apoſtles are in them to be conſidered as Presbyters who received the power of Juriſdiction or ruling, and acting as Presbyters were in their ordinary employment; Though at other times they uſed Superlative authority as Chriſts extraordinary Ambaſſadours 2 Cor. 5. 20. Some Impertinent Cavills about the Apoſtles exerciſing the office of Presbyters made by the Independents are clearely taken away by the Dr. from pag. 84, unto the 94. p. And leaſt any ſhould conceit the Apoſtles were not Presbyters, becauſe in thoſe places above it is ſaid the Apoſtles and Presbyters making a diſtinction betwixt them. The Apoſtle Saint Peter reſolves the doubt, 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. in which place, Peter ſtyles himſelfe a Presbyter or Elder; In the ſecond Epiſtle of Iohn ver. 1. Saint Iohn doth ſtyle himſelf Presbyter, or Elder, ſaying; The Presbyter to the Elect Lady.
Saint Paul likewiſe ſtyles himſelfe a Presbyter if you compare 1 Tim. 4. 14. with 2 Tim. 1. 6. in which places it is evident that Saint Paul was one of the Presbytery.
Quest. Why do the Independent Brethren conclude every of their congregations a particular Church, depending upon no other Church; either for Government, Doctrine, or Manners, when the whole current of the Scripture doth ſo clearly expreſſe the Presbyterian Government Ordain'd by Chriſt in the mother Church of Jeruſalem muſt be a pattern unto all daughter Churches untill the end of the World.
Now it hath beene plainly proved that the Church of Ieruſalem conſiſted of many congregations, which made but one Church, And that one Church diſtributed into thoſe particular aſſemblyes, was Governed by a Common-Councell or Presbytery. The example of which Church the Independent Brethren pretend to follow.
Anſw. The Brethrens Anſwer is ſeconded with theſe reaſons. Firſt, becauſe their particular Churches have for their patterne no leſſe then the whole Colledge of the Apoſtles and Presbyters, Act. 1. 15. Where they ſate in councell to chuſe a diſciple in the place of Judas, the number of the men, not of men and women as in verſe 14. being one hundred and twenty. The Independent Brethren miſtaking the members of the congregation, who were men, and Brethren, verſe 16. and not men Brethren and Siſters, do peremptorily conclude from hence, there were no more believers in Ieruſalem, then in this congregation; notwithſtanding the multitudes that believed, and were baptized, by Iohn Baptiſt, and this whole Colledge of Apoſtles and Presbyters before the Paſſion of Chriſt. Secondly, Becauſe their Churches (though made up with a number of women) by imitating the Aſſembly of Apoſtles and Presbyters, every particular Church doth thereby gaine the ſame Authority which our Saviour gave to the whole Colledge of Apoſtles, Mat. 18. 15. 16. 17. 18. which being extraordinary, and exceeding the tenure of the Scripture to have ſo much power confered upon a ſmal congregation, doth declare our Brethren the Independents to be wiſe above that which is written, 1 Cor. 4. 6. and in knowledge to reſemble the children of this world, Mat. 16. 8.