The Way of Congregational Churches Cleared, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. I. Of the Title put upon us of
A Sect,
Independents.
THe way of the Churches in New-England is neither juſtly called a Sect, nor fitly called Independency. Not a Sect; for we profeſſe the Orthodox Doctrine of Faith, the ſame with all Proteſtant Churches; we celebrate the ſame Sacraments; and ſubmit to the ſpirituall government of the ſame lawfull Guides, ſo farre as Chriſt and our own choyce hath ſet them over us. And though we doe not ſubject our ſelves to the Government of the Elders of other Churches, (as many great Churches doe,) yet we acknowledge and reverence ſuch Churches in the Lord, as true Churches of Chriſt, and are willing to make uſe of their Brotherly counſell and help as need ſhall require.
And though we doe not open the doors of our Churches ſo wide, as to receive all the Inhabitants of a Nation, or of every Town, into the fellowſhip of our Churches; yet we doe not ſeparate from ſuch Proteſtant Churches as doe take that liberty: but onelyonly we ſeparate from the world, that is, from the worldly ſort of them, who either live in open ſcandall, or at leaſt doe not openly hold forth any ſpirituall diſcerning of the Lords Body, and are therefore u…eet to communicate at the Lord Table.
Nor is Independency a fit name of the way of our Churches. For in ſome reſpects it is too ſtrait, and in others too large; it is too ſtrait, in that it confineth us within our ſelves, and holdeth us forth as Independent from all others: whereas indeed we doe profeſſe dependence upon Magiſtrates for civil Government and protection: Dependence upon Chriſt and his Word, for the ſoveraign government and rule of our adminiſtrations: Dependence upon the counſell of other Churches and Synods; when our own variance or ignorance may ſtand in need of ſuch help from them. And therefore this title of Independency ſtraitneth us, & reſtraineth us from our neceſſary duty, and due liberty.
Again, in other reſpects, Independency ſtretcheth it ſelf too largely, and more generally, then that it can ſingle out us. For it is compatible to a Nationall Church, as well as to a Congregationall. The Nationall Church of Scotland is Independent from the Government of the Nationall Church of England; and ſo is England Independent from Scotland. Nor is there any Sect at this day extant, but ſhrowdeth themſelves under the title of Independency. The Antipaedobaptiſts, Antinomians, Familiſts, yea, and the Seekers too, do all of them ſtyle themſelves Independents. Nay, even the Pope himſelf, (who exalteth himſelf above all Civill and Church-power) yet even he alſo arrogateth the title of Independency; Prima ſ…des à nemine judicatur; that is, the Sea of Rome is Independent. Why then ſhould Independency be appropriated to us, as a character of our way, which neither truly deſcribeth us, nor faithfully diſtinguiſheth us from many others? Wherefore if there muſt needs be ſome note of difference to decypher our eſtate, and to diſ…inguiſh our way from a Nationall Church-way, I know none fitter, then to denominate theirs Claſſicall, and ours Congregationall.
SECT. II. Of the number of the Congregationall Regiment, and of the wiſdome threaped upon them, in engaging Perſons of note to them.
The Diſſwader acknowledgeth, We are not numerous, but the feweſt in number of the noted Sects, and not to conſiſt of above One thouſand perſons within the Lines of the Cities Communication.
Anſw. 1. If we be the feweſt of noted Sec…, it was ſometime the lot of Gods Iſrael to be the feweſt of all people, Deut. 7.7.
Anſw. 2. If there be a thouſand of our way within the Lines of the Cities Communication, I hope there want not divers more to be added to them in other parts of England, beſides ſome thouſands more in New-England. But it is not for us to follow Davids ſinne in numbring the people of the Lord; onelyonly the Lord increaſe their number an hundreth fold, (yea, a thouſand fold) and make them as the ſtars of heaven for multitude.
But for the quality of the perſons, the Diſſwader telleth us, They have been ſo wiſe, as to engage to their party ſome of chief note in both Houſes of Parliament, in the Aſſembly of Divines, in the Army, in the City, and Countrey-Committees.
But in ſo ſaying, the Diſſwader putteth a diſhonor both upon God, and upon thoſe perſons of chief note. It is a diſhonor to God, to attribute that to the wiſdome of man, which is the mighty and gracious work of the wiſdome of God. And it is a diſhonor to ſuch men, to hold them forth as engaged to this way by the wiſdome and induſtry of men, who have been well known (and ſome of them for many years) not to have engaged themſelves or others any further, then the grace of Chriſt, and the conſcience of his Word hath engaged them to doe and ſuffer, according to the will of God.