The Independents Catechism, Part 2
The ſecond part of the INDEPENDENTS Catechiſme, gathered out of the Treatiſe upon theſe ſix following Queres, concerning the gathering of CHURCHES.
1. Quere. WHere it is commanded in the word of God that the Miniſters of the Goſpell ſhall run about from their owne places, and Charges to gather believing Chriſtians, from amongſt believing Chriſtians, into their owne Independent congregations, and debar them from all Church-fellowſhip, and communication with other believers in Gods holy Ordinances and Sacraments. And proclaime, all that are not molded up after this new-modell to be a people out of covenant, to have no right to the ſeales of the New-covenant; neither they nor their children, though believers, whether this way of gathering Churches was ever heard of before theſe daies whether this be to ſet up Chriſt as King upon his throne, to make diviſions and Sciſmes in Churches and among beleivers and Brethren, and that upon groundleſſe pretences.
2. Quere. Whether for the making any man or woman a member of the Church, it be neceſſary to the believeing, and being baptized, that they ſhould walke ſome dayes, weekes, monthes, or yeares with them that they may have experience of their converſation before they can be admitted, and after that a confeſſion of their faith, ſhould be publikely made before the congregation, and the evidences of their converſion, as the time when, the place where, the occaſion how, they were converted: And if any, either men, or women, ſhall except againſt their evidence that then they are not to be admitted.
3. Quere. Whether for making any man a member or an officer of a Church, the conſent of the whole congregation, or the greater part of them beſides the Presbyters and Miniſters be requiſite.
4. Quere. Whether for the admiſſion of any one into Church-fellowſhip and communion a private ſolemne Covenant be requiſite or neceſſary for the making any one a member, the neglect or refuſall of the which makes them incapable of their member-ſhip or admiſſion.
5. Quere. Whether the women and people as well as the Presbyters and Miniſters have the power of the Keyes. And whether the women have all their voices in the Church, both for election and reprobation of members and officers as well as the men, and whether the conſent of all the women, or the greateſt part of them to be requiſite, for the making any one a member or officer? So that if they gainſay it, being the greater number, or allow of it, the moſt voices carry the buſineſſe.
6. Quere. Whether the practice and preaching of all theſe things, and the gathering of Churches after this manner, be to ſet up Chriſt as King upon his throne; and whether Churches and aſſemblyes thus congregated be the onelyonly true Churches in the which only Chriſt rules and reigns as King, and all other that are not molded up after this faſhion, be no true congregated Churches, and in the which Chriſt is not ſet up as King upon his throne?
Quest. Who were commanded by Chriſt to preach the Goſpell, and to propound to all Nations the conditions upon which they were to be admitted into his Church; And who were to admit them?
Anſw. The Apoſtles onelyonly and Presbyters, and Miniſters of the Goſpell; As appeares by Chriſts Commiſſion given unto them and his promiſe to be with them untill the end of the World: Mat. 28. 19. 20. Marke 16. 15. 16. Acts 26. 15. to the 20. verſ. Here the Commiſſion was onelyonly delivered to the Apoſtles and the Miniſters of the Goſpell that they ſhould admit whoſoever believed and were baptized.
Quest. Did John Baptiſt or any of the primitive Apoſtles, and Miniſters ever call for a congregation to joyne with them in the admitting any member into the Church of Chriſt, or did they demand ſuch evidences and qualifications as the Independents do in the foregoing Queres?
Anſw. Their preaching, and practiſe in Baptizing, which is admitting members into the Church of Chriſt, doth ſhew plainely they did it by vertue of their Commiſſion, no mention being made of a new Church, or congregation to have voices with them, or any other conditions to be required, then Repent, believe, and be baptized; which is plainely proved: Mat. 3. 2. 6. Luke 3. 7. Luke 7. 29. John 3. 4. Act. 2. 37. 38. 4. Act. 8. 36. 37. 38.
Quest. Where did the Apoſtles and primitive Presbyters delight to gather Churches?
Anſw. Amongſt the loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael, to bring them into Chriſts fold; as appeares by Saint Paul accompting it a diſhonour to build upon another mans Foundation. Romans 15. 20.
Queſt. What command have women in the Church either for preaching, or giving their voices, in the election or reprobation of members or officers?
Anſw. No more command have they for any ſuch practiſe, then by Saint Pauls words is due unto them, 1 Cor. 14. 34. 35. 36. 1 Tim. 2. 11. 12. in both theſe places it is the Apoſtles ſpeciall care to prevent womens intermedlings in matters of the Church, which may for ever ſilence the Independents weake opinion who tolerate womens voicing it in their Churches contrary to the Word of God.
Quest. May diverſities of Religions be tolerated amongſt Chriſtians, or were they ever tolerated in the Old or New-Teſtament?
Anſw. The practiſe of the holy men of God ſheweth they may not, and their practiſe is for our imitation; 1 Cor. 10. 6. 7. Rom. 15. 14. Gen. 17. 1. 2. 3. Gen. 18. 17. 18. 19. Joſ. 24. 14. 15. 16. In theſe places it is cleare that Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, and Ioſhua ſuffered no Idolatry nor Sects in their families, for this had been to tolerate all Religions, or to worſhip the true God in a falſe manner, and not to do Juſtice and Judgement.
Quest. Are the examples of the Patriarches, Prophets, and Apoſtles, who tolerated onelyonly the true Religion; or the examples of Poland, Tranſylvania and Holland, to be followed, who tolerate all Religions?
Anſw. Saint Paul will decide the controverſie ſufficiently for us, if we delight not more in novelties then in the old way preſcrib'd in the written Word: Rom. 12. 1, 2. Phil. 3. 17. Phil. 4. 8, 9. In which places Saint Paul doth declare that we muſt not faſhion our ſelves according to this World, we muſt not imitate the Saints of God in their failings, and we muſt walke ſo as we have him & the reſt of the Saints for an example, Our bleſſed Saviour blames the Angell of the Church of Pergamus Thyatira, Laodicea, Revel. 2. 12. 13, 14. to the 20. Revel. 3. 14, 15, 16. Becauſe they tolerated Balaam and Iezabell, ſhewing his great diſpleaſure againſt them for it; Now theſe that labour for a toleration of all Religions muſt needs be Luke-warme, ſuch as God will ſpue out of his mouth.
Queſt. What examples have we in Scripture for the ſuppreſſing of falſe Teachers, when they are openly diſcovered?
Anſw. The Prophets and Elders of Iſrael in all ages who had the ſword of juſtice in their hands to puniſh all ſeducers as appeares, 1 Kings 18. 21. Deutr. 13. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Iudges 6. 30, 31. and their practiſe is for our Magiſtrats imitation, 1 Cor. 10. 6, 7. Romans 15. 14.
Queſt. What eſteeme ought Chriſtians to have of thoſe Independent miniſters who inſtead of preaching the Word of God, in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon to convert ſoules, preach their owne traditions and inventions, to deſtroy thoſe precious ſoules which other Godly Miniſters have converted?
Anſw. Saint Pauls ſentence is of any ſuch falſe teacher, Let him be accurſed, Gal. 1. 8, 9. And if we will believe our Saviours words; Such mens condition is very dangerous whatſoever they may promiſe to themſelves, Mat. 18. 6, 7. Woe be unto that man by whom the offence cometh. Now ſuch offence is come by wandring after the Independent Miniſters New-lights, that all Godly Miniſters may with Saint Paul wiſh they were cut off, who trouble the Church, by ſuch groundleſſe pretences.
And whereas all Godly Presbyters and Miniſters, who preach Chriſt out of good will, open the eyes of the blind, turne them from darkeneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, ought highly to be Honour'd for their workes ſake; 1 Theſſ. 5. 13. Yea, that they deſerve double Honour; 1 Tim. 5. 17. Yet the ſame Apoſtle doth on the contrary give unto all believers a ſpeciall caution To beware of falſe teachers Rom. 16. 17, 18. (Coloſſ. 2. 8. 2 Epiſtle of Saint Iohn 9, 10, 7. verſes) Concluding that they that are ſuch ſerve not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but their owne bellies, and with faire ſpeech, and flattering, deceive the hearts of the ſimple.
FINIS.
Imprimatur,
Ja. Cranford. July 3. 1645.
End of the text · John Bernard, The Independents Catechism (1645)