A Survey of the Sum of Church Discipline, To the reader 2 – Summary
MY Times (sayth David) are in thy Hand: Neither is it meete, for us so much as, to know the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. This is as conspicuously made good in his appointing the seasons for justifying his own cause, as of any other event whatsoever. Wherein, as he hath as great an interest; so, himselfe being the principall, yea, sole AUTHOR of all that is written or spoken for it, assumes the prerogative to judge and determine of the fittest opportunity, for every word, that shall be uttered, much more published in testimony thereof. This I have with silence and submission learned (as many other lessons) from his so strong and all wise-disposing Providence towards this treatise; And some other, both passages and treatises that have related to, or been intended for defence and cleering of this Argument.
This Treatise was finisht and sent over transcribed, under the eye and exact review of the eminently accomplisht Author himselfe, well nigh Two yeeres since; who also then followed it (as I have heard) with many prayers and teares, for a blessing upon the publishing. But it was then buried in the rude waves of the vast Ocean, with many precious Saints, in their passage hither. The most of those that were affected to this cause, did then judge, in respect of the Opportunity, and importunity of that season, (that impetuously called for a Modell of this way) this to be a losse not recompensable, at any other time. But God (we see, and that by this strange disaster) thought best to reserve it rather, for such a time as this: as wherein, the noyse and tumultuous outcries of many, being somewhat stilled, the words of the wise, may bee (as Solomon speakes) the better heard in quiet. Eccles. 9.17.And the raging violence of that hot season, (which like a fiery Oven, (as the Prophet speakes) devoured all that was cast into it) being a little moderated, and allayed, men may be better disposed to heare and consider Reason, especially coming from this hand, whom all men knew, and had in esteeme, as a man of God, of more then an ordinary spirit. And perhaps some of those Reasonings, which were then, or would still have been deemed as broken and bru…sed Reeds, in the hands of others, may become in his as rods of Iron, and prevaile to Victory: And those Rods, which have been turned to Serpents, become Rods againe, now they are taken up by him.
That forementioned destiny, that hath attended this booke, hath, at times visited my thoughts with an apprehension of something of Like Omen to the cause it selfe it pleads for against the Presbyteriall Government: That after an overwhelming of it with a flood of obloquies and disadvantages and mis-representations and injurious oppressions, cast out after it, it might (in the time which God alone hath put in his own power) be again emergent; yea and shoot forth out of the same seeds of Truth, which have been scattered and buried under ground. Which hath the more ready entertainment with mee, because from our first entrance into this conflict, I made account and lookt for it, That this truth and all that should be said for it, was ordained as Christ (of whom every truth is a Ray and beame) to be as a seede of corne, which unlesse it fall to the ground and dye, and this perhaps together with some of the persons that professe it, it brings not forth much fruit. All that is His, is alwayes at first sown in weaknesse; but afterwards riseth in power: One Age sowes and another reapes: And yet in these latter dayes wherein the light and Sunshine growes hotter and more intense, the same age may perhaps see, and enjoy both the seed-time, and the encrease.
However, certaine I am of this, which may more visibly be read out of this, and a more then usuall conjunction of many other occurrences falling out at this juncture of time, evidently proclaiming by a lowd and powerfull voyce of providence, that Gods designe and pleasure is (for what ends and issues himselfe onelyonly knowes) to renew and hold up this controversie amongst us, as if it were but new begun, notwithstanding all that sluggish backwardnesse in those that have been called, yea cryed out upon, to maintain it; and those slight and despising thoughts in others, as not worth the pains and travaile. God not onelyonly having stirred up the spirit of this great worthy to undertake the defence thereof (whose humility and modesty to appeare in Print in any other subject, considering his abilities in all kinds, both for preaching and disputing were singular) but ordering of it so, as that it should be accompanied with many other Treatises now published, or to be made publique, that have as long since been prepared, but detained,Mr Nortons Answer to all the Quaeries of Apollonius in Latin. Mr Shephards and Master Allens defence of the nine Questions and Positions from New England. The Reasons and Answers of the Dissenting Brethren and the Assembly, and the transactions about Accommodation all that were given in in writing. Mr Cottons Answer to Mr Baily, &c. The doctrinall part. as if to beare it companie, but now issuing forth as it were at once. Some of which will provoke and occasion others, or necessitate some of those engaged to make fresh Replies, or some other way to vindicate the truth.
Yea, and which is more eminently observable to this purpose in hand, that the Assembly of Divines it selfe (Providence so conspiring and contriving it) should now, and not till now (though upon the Order of the Honourable House long since issued forth, a faint attempt towards an entrance thereunto was made by them) should now be set aworke and betake themselves a new, to assert and convincingly make forth the Jus Divinum of Church-government, both in the generall principles, upon which it is to be made forth, and the particularities thereof: And so not only take a new survey, but go over, upon a new woof, the whole peece and platform they had debated & before presented, but under A THERE MAY BE, and IT IS LAWFUL AND AGREEABLE TO THE WORD, and the like: THE LORD, by all these coincident events calling his Saints to a fresh and more serious revisall of these Controversies, as not yet determined, nor fully cleared either to the satisfaction of God or man. And moreover by this last alone, (if there were no other consideration higher and of more weight) putting in a sufficient caveat and demur to the swords plea or entermedling, as in relation to this quarrell, pendente lite, the suite as yet depending upon an other way of triall.
As touching this Treatise, and the worthy Author of it, I intend not to preface any thing by commendation of either unto the Reader; which were indeed, to lay paint upon burnished marble, or add light unto the Sun. The trust of viewing it at the presse being committed to my care, I have, out of the honour I bore to him, and love unto this cause my heart is in, endeavoured to discharge it with my utmost diligence and faithfulnesse: I have done it all the right I could. And Reader, be assured thou hast it here presented as it was now transcribed and sent over, without Addition or Diminution: Neither did I entermeddle so farre as to looke The Quotations in the Authors themselves, whom he confutes; but left them as I found them to the Copy. OnelyOnly I beleeve upon some Conjectures, that the Copy which perished, and was throughout revised, and perhaps added to by the Author, was more perfect then this.
I have no more but to commend it and thee to the blessing of God.
APRIL. 17. 1648. THO. GOODWIN.
THE CONTENTS. A Survey of the Summe of Church-Discipline.
PART I. Ecclesiasticall Policie Defined.
CHAP. I. ECclesiasticall Policie is a skill of ordering the affairs of Christs house according to the pattern of his Word. page 1.
Chap. 2. The constitution of a visible Church in the Causes thereof: The Efficient and Matter. p. 11.
Chap. 3. Of the invisible Church: Whether the invisible Church be the principall, prime and onelyonly proper subject, to whom all the Seals and Priviledges of speciall note doe belong. p. 35.
Chap. 4. Of the formall cause of a visible Church, the Church Covenant. p. 41.
Chap. 5. Whether Baptisme doth give formality or make a member of a visible Church? p. 55.
Chap. 6. Whether profession makes a man a member of a Congregation? p. 60.
Chap. 7. An Answer to Arguments made against the Church-Covenant. p. 68.
Chap. 8. Wherein the precedency of a Church, as it is Totum homogeneum, is handled. p. 89.
Chap. 9. Of the nature and being of a Presbyteriall Church. p. 94.
Chap. 10. Such arguments as Mr Rutterford aleadgeth for the confirmation of a Presbyteriall Church answered. p. 130.
Chap. 11. Touching the I. subject of Ecclesiasticall power, where the nature of it is discovered, and the arguments brought against it answered. p. 185.
Chap. 12. Touching the Catholike and visible Church, whether to the Ministery and guides of the Catholike visible Church, hath the Lord committed the Keyes, as to the first subject. Discussed p. 217.
Chap. 13. Of the Catholike Church as it is totum representativum, in the Assembling of Pastors, &c. in a generall Councell. p. 229.
Chap. 14. Of the Church universall, as it is totum integrale. p. 243.
Chap. 15. An answer to Mr Hudson, concerning the Church Catholike visible, as totum integrale. p. 250.
Chap. 16. Of Church communion as it is a Peculiar Priviledge to the members of a Church. p. 288.
PART. II. Of the Church considered as it is corpus Organicum.
Chap. 1. Of the number of Officers therein, and the nature thereof. p. 1.
Chap. 2. Wherein the nature of Ordination is discussed, and the 17. Chap. of Mr Rutterford is considered, and answered, as touching the power he giveth to a Pastor in and over other Congregations beside his own. p. 38.
Chap. 3. Of an Independent Church, Wherein the state of the question is opened, the distastfull term of Independency cleared, and the right meaning put upon it. M. R. his Arguments in the 13. Chap. debated. p. 78.
PART. III.
Chap. 1. Of the Government of the Church. p. 1.
Chap. 2. Of the dispensation of the Sacraments. p. 8.
Chap. 3. Of Censures. p. 33.
PART. IIII. Concerning Synods.
Chap. 1. VVherein M. R. 6. Argument is debated, taken out of Act. 15. and the nature of that Synod discussed, and how farre that or any other Synod can be said to binde by any warrant from the VVord. p. 1.
Chap. 2. VVhere M. R his Arguments touching the superiority of Classes and Synods above particular Congregations are considered and answered: And they are in number 6. more set down in the 15. Chap. of his book. p. 15.
Chap. 3. An appendix to the former Treatise concerning Synods. p. 45.
An Analyticall Table.
A Church considered in her
Constitution
Corpus Homogentum, whose
Causes
Efficient
And
Materiall
Formall
Qualification which is either in
Order and Precedency.
Excellency of
Power,
Priviledges.
Organicum where Officers, whose
Number
Ruling Only.
Ruling and teaching
Pastor,
Doctor.
Supporting the
Estates of the members, as Deacons.
Health, as Widdowes.
Institution
Election.
Ordination.
And
Gubernation
Severed
What the watch is, which appertains to all.
What the behaviour of all under it.
Assembled, in
Admission
What to be done before they come,
What, when they are met, in receiving such who
Are no members, Come members from other Congregations.
Dispensation of
Sacraments
Parties who have right to
give,
receive.
Manner
Common to both, as to be
Publike in the Assembly.
Accompanied with the word.
Peculiar to
Baptisme
with one element,
once administred.
Supper administred.
Frequently with distinct blessings, as there be distinct elements.
Censures of offences.
Private
Publike, where
Preparation to the sentence which is
Examined,
Cleared.
And
Recorded,
Pub…ished.
Execution by
Admonition,
Excommunication.
Consociation in
Synods,
Councels.