Reply to Rutherford, Treatise · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Whether the Church at Epheſus were more in number then Corinth and Jeruſalem, and the judgement of Mr. Baynes; Whether that Church was many Congregations, or one onelyonly?
PAg. 470. Having ſuggeſted ſundry things, to prove that Epheſus was many Congregations, and yet but one Church; hee concludes this, viz. upon theſe conſiderations, I leave to our reverend Brethren their judgement; if Mr. Mather and Mr. Thompſon ſay right, we doe not thinke they were more in number at Epheſus then in Corinth and Jeruſalem, where the Chriſtians met all in one place.
Anſw. The exception then which in this place is taken againſt Mr. Thompſon and me, is for this, that we doe not thinke the Chriſtians at Epheſus, to be more in number then at Jeruſalem and Corinth. Concerning which, I will not ſay much, but onelyonly this, that as we have onelyonly delivered what we think in this matter, without determining or aſſerting any thing peremptorily; ſo we ſhall readily imbrace the contrary, when good grounds ſhall be ſhewed for the ſame: which though we doe not yet perceive to be performed in all that Mr. Rutherford hath ſaid; yet I will not here ſpend time in examining the ſame, becauſe I do not count this point of ſo much importance concerning the principall thing in queſtion. For whether the Church at Epheſus were more in number then Corinth and Jeruſalem, or whether it were otherwiſe; there is no great matter in this as touching the maine queſtion. For if all of them were ſuch Churches, as might uſually meet together in one Congregation, as I conceive they were▪ it matters not much which of them was moſt in number.
But doth not M. Rutherford prove that the one Church at Epheſus was more then one Congregation? I confeſſe, he hath ſundry things in the precedent pages, which he intendeth that way. But in aſmuch as they doe not concerne M. Tompſon and me in particular, nor are by him applyed againſt any paſſage in the anſwer; I will therefore paſſe them over more briefly, my purpoſe being chiefly, to conſider of ſuch particulars, wherein he takes exception againſt the Anſwer. Only, thus much I would advertiſe the Reader, that a good part of that which Mr. Rutherf. brings to prove many Congregations in one Church at Epheſus, hath been anſwered long agoe by Mr. Baynes in his Dioceſans triall, pag. 5. which I the rather Commend to Mr. Rutherfords conſideration, becauſe, he counts him a man of worth, calling him worthy Baynes: And for the help of ſuch Readers, as cannot readily come to the book it ſelf, I will here tranſcribe a few lines out of the ſame worthy Baynes, as they are to be found in his Dioceſ. triall. p. 5, 6. viz.
The Church of Epheſus was but one flock; Firſt, it is likely that it was of no other forme then the other. (Sir, Ieruſalem, Antioch and Corinth, which he had before ſhewed to be each of them one Congregation.) Secondly, it was but one flock, that which Presbyters might joyntly feed: they had no Dioceſan Paſter: If Presbyters onelyonly, then none but Pariſhonall Churches in and about Epheſus: theremay be many flocks, but God ordained none but ſuch as may wholely meet with thoſe who have the care of feeding and governing of them: Peter indeed 1 Pet. 5. 2. calleth all thoſe he writteth unto one flock, but that is in regard either of the myſticall eſtate of the faithfull, or in reſpect of the common nature, which is in all Churches one and the ſame: but properly and in externall adunation, one flock is but one Congregation. Thirdly, Pariſhes according to the adverſe opinion were not then divided: Neither doth the long and fruitfull labours of the Apoſtle argue that there ſhould bee Pariſh Churches in Dioceſan wiſe added, but a great number of Siſter Churches. But when it is ſaid, that all Aſia did heare, the meaning is that from hand to hand, it did runne through Aſia; ſo as Churches were planted every where, even where Paul came not, as at Colloſſe: there might be many Churches in Aſia, and many converted by Peter, and others fruitfull labours, without ſubordination of Churches.