The Way of Congregational Churches Cleared, Treatise 1 · Chapter 5
CHAPT. V. Of the fruits of Congregationall diſcipline.
SECT. I. Of the fruits of it in the primitive times.
VVEe have heard of the corrupt fruits, which Mr. Baylie chargeth (but corruptly, and cauſeleſly) upon Congregationall diſcipline: Let us now ſee, whether better fruits have not been found to grow upon it, even ſuch fruits as do argue the diſcipline to be the plantation of the Lord Jeſus.
1 Preſuppoſing that which hath been proved, that our Congregationall diſcipline, is the ſame (for ſubſtance) wherein the Primitive Churches walked for the firſt 300. yeers, (to wit, during all the time of the Primitive Perſecutions) I conceive (without arrogancy) wee may acknowledge the fruits of their diſcipline to be the fruits of ours.
Firſt, their exact ſtrictneſſe in examining and trying their Cate…humeni, before they received them into Eccleſiam Fidelium, brought forth this ſavory and ſpirituall fruit, the purity of Churches. Pagans themſelves could not charge them with any crime, but the name and profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, ſee Pliny Epiſtolarum lib. 10. Epiſtolam 97. Tertullian Apologetick Chap. 3. That which hee ſaith of Cajus Sejus, was a generall Elogy of their Church-members, Bonus vir, malus tantum quòd Chriſtianus. A like fruit to that of Daniel againſt whom his enemies could find no occaſion of complaint of error or fault, except it were for the profeſſion of the Law of his God, Chap. 6.4, 5.
And as their ſtrict examination received their members pure: ſo their ſtrict cenſure kept them pure. For in the Church, Iudicabatur magno cum pondere: — And in their Feaſts they were temperate and religiouſly fruitfull in ſavory and gratious conference, and ſo departed b…tter then they met, Ʋt qui non tam Caenam caenaverint, quam diſciplinam. Tertul. Apol. Cap. 39.
2 From this purity and vigilancy of their diſcipline, in the admiſſion of their members, and in the adminiſtration of their cenſures, there ſprung forth many other gratious fruits, as their holy and conſtant and confident confeſſions of the Name of Chriſt before judgement ſeates, the patient and glorious Martyrdomes of innumerable Saints, to the conviction and aſtoniſhment of a world of perſecutors.
Whence alſo ſprung at laſt, the converſion of a great part of the word unto the truth, the advancement of a Chriſtian Emperour, the rooting out of Paganiſh Idolatry, and propagation of the profeſſion of Chriſtian Religion, not onelyonly through the Roman Empire, but in many other Nations exempt from the power of Roman Armes, yet not from the power of the Name of Chriſt, and of his Church.
Afterwards, in the dayes of Conſtantine, when the externall peace and libertie of the Churches, encouraged all ſorts of men (cleane and uncleane) to offer themſelves to the fellowſhip of the Church, and Congregationall diſcipline began to be neglected through the uſurped authority of the Biſhops, and Presbyters, the limits of the Church began to bee as large as the Precincts of the Pariſh: and the Church it ſelf (which before was wont to be as a Garden incloſed, Cant. 4.12.) did now become as a Wilderneſſe lying open to all the Beaſts of the Field; who ſo would offer himſelf, might have free paſſage into the boſome of the Church: and offer themſelves they did, not from the ſavour of ſpirituall gifts (as was wont to bee done in Congregationall diſcipline:) but from reſpect to the countenance of higher powers, and the priviledges and preferments flowing therefrom; Church members being farre more readily received to place of truſt and honour, then men without. But this inundation of corrupt members was prevented by the vigilancy of Congregationall diſcipline, whilſt it ſtood in force, in the former centuries.
3. This was another good Fruit of the Congreationall diſcipline in thoſe primitive times, That whilſt it took place in the Churches, there could be no place, nor way open for the advancement of Antichriſt, no nor for the uſurpation of Epiſcopall prelacy. For whilſt every Church kept their Government within their own Congregation, they knew not the heavy and Lordly yoke of Cathedrall Chu…ches, much leſſe were they trodden down with impoſitions from the Sea of Rome. It is true, Victor Biſhop of Rome attempted a cenſure againſt the Churches of Aſia, but his Arrogancy was ſpeedily repreſſed by Ireneus, and ſundry others both in Europe & Aſia. And when ſome ſcandalous perſons in the African Churches, did appeale in Cyprians time from thoſe Churches unto Rome, Cyprian, and his fellow Biſhops (or Presbyters) in the African Churches, did eaſily prevent the impeachment of their Church-Government from remote Churches, and kept ſtill their Government within themſelves.
SECT. 2. Of the Fruits of Congregationall diſcipline in our Churches in New-England.
2. FOr the fruits of Congregationall diſcipline, as it hath been exerciſed amongſt us (though in much weakneſſe) the Lord hath not left us without teſtimony from Heaven.
Firſt, in making theſe Churches a little ſanctuary (through his grace) to many thouſands of his ſervants, who fled over hither to avoide the unſupportable preſſures of their conſciences by the Epiſcopall tyranny.
Secondly, in bleſſing the Miniſtery of our Preachers here with like fruits of converſion (as in our native Countrey) of ſundry elder and younger perſons, who came over hither not out of reſpect to conſcience, or ſpirituall ends, but out of reſpect to friends, or outward inlargements: but have here found that grace, which they ſought not for.
Thirdly, in diſcovering and ſuppreſſing thoſe errors of Antinomians, and Familiſts, which brake forth here amongſt us, and might have proceeded to the ſubverſion of many ſoules, had not the bleſſing of Chriſt upon the vigilancy of Congregationall diſcipline, either prevented or removed, or healed the ſame.
Fourthly, it hath been alſo a teſtimony from Heaven of Gods bleſſing upon our way, that many thouſands in England in all the Quarters of the kingdome, have been awakened to conſider of the cauſe of Church diſcipline, for which wee have ſuffered this hazardous and voluntary baniſhment into this remote Wilderneſſe: and have therefore by letters conferred with us about it, & been (through mercy) ſo farre enlightned, as to deſire an utter ſubverſion of Epiſcopacy, and conformity, yea and the Honorable Houſes of Parliament, the Lord hath been pleaſed to helpe them ſo farre to conſider of our ſufferings, and of the cauſes thereof, as to conclude a neceſſitie of reformation of the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate, (amongſt other cauſes, ſo) by reaſon of the neceſſitie put upon ſo many Engliſh ſubjects to depart from all our employments, and enjoyments in our Native Countrey, for conſcience ſake.
SECT. 3. Of the Fruits of Congregationall diſcipline in England.
3 For the fruits of Congregationall diſcipline in England, they that walke in that way amongſt you, might ſpeak far more particularly, and largely, then I here can doe at ſuch a remote diſtance. But if Books, and Letters, and reports doe not too much abuſe us with falſe intelligence, the great, and gratious, and glorious victories, wher…by the Lord hath wrought ſalvation for England in theſe late warres, have been as ſo many teſtimonies of the bleſſing of God upon our way. For the chiefeſt inſtruments, which God hath delighted to uſe herein, have been the Faith and fidelity, the courage, and conſtancy of Independents. And when I ſay Independents, I meane not thoſe corrupt Sects and Hereſies, which ſhroud themſelves under the vaſt title of Independency, and in the meane time caſt off all Church Government, and Churches too; but ſuch as profeſſe the Kingdome of Chriſt in the gouernment of each holy Congregation of Saints within themſelves.
Far bee it from me to undervalue the brotherly aſſiſtance of the Scottiſh Churches and Commonwealth in working ſo great a deliverance for England. Yea I account their concurrence a greater matter then aſſiſtance in this great work. Their exemplary pi…ty and zeale, their courage, and confidence in riſing up, and ſtanding out againſt the invaſion of Epiſcopall tyranny, and ſuperſtition, did doubtleſſe quicken and encourage England to ſtand for the like liberty in the like cauſe: and to put forth that zeale, which the Lord had kindled in the hearts of many for Reformation. And this was more then an aſſiſtance, even a guidance. Afterwards the forwardneſſe of the Scottiſh Nation to advance their Armies into the Engliſh Fields for the helpe of England againſt the Common Enemies of Church and State, was an Act of brotherly love never to be forgotten without due and thankfull acknowledgement, and encouragement. But yet let the good pleaſure of the Lord bee acknowledged, who out of his abundant grace, hath granted the chiefeſt ſucceſſes to the Engliſh deſignes by the Forces of the Independents, which may not be denied without too much ingratitude both to God and man. Let all the glory thereof be wholly and ſolely given to the Lord: but yet let not the inſtruments be accounted unfruitfull, by whom the Lord hath brought forth ſuch bleſſed Fruits of victory, and libertie, both from civill ſervitude, and ſuperſtitious thraldome, and withall ſo great an advancement of Reformation both in Church and State.
The inundation of Sects and Hereſies in London, and the retarding of Reformation in England, which have both of them been objected as the bitter fruits of the Congregationall way, have been cleared above, to ſpring from other Roots, not from that way. See Chap. 3. Sect. 5. the end of it.