The Temple Measured, Title page – Table of contents
The Temple meaſured: OR, A brief Survey of the Temple myſtical, Which is the Inſtituted CHURCH of CHRIST.
Wherein are ſolidly and modeſtly diſcuſſed, Moſt of the material Queſtions touching the Conſtitution and Government of the Viſible Church Militant here on Earth.
Together with The ſolution of all ſorts of OBJECTIONS which are uſually framed againſt the Model and Platform of Eccleſiaſtical Polity, which is here aſſerted and maintained.
In particular here are debated, The points of ſo much Controverſie, touching the Unity of the Church, The Members of the Church, The Form of the Church, and Church Covenant, The Power of the Church, The Officers of the Church, and their Power in Church-Government, The Power of Magiſtrates about the Church, and ſome Church Acts, as Admiſſion of Members, and other things ſet down in the Table before the Book.
By JAMES NOYES Teacher of the Church at Newbery in New England.
LONDON: Printed for EDMUND PAXTON, and are to be ſold at his Shop in Pauls chain, over againſt the Caſtle Tavern neer to the Doctors Commons. 1647.
READER,
IT is a thing well known to them of New-England (and too well known amongſt our ſelves) in what excentrick motions the judgements of ſome of the Elders and Churches there have of late been carried about matters pertaining to Church-Adminiſtrations; yet hitherto, for the moſt part, they do concur in their practiſe, though not all acted upon the ſame principles, nor regulated in all things by the ſame Catholique and individual Rule. For the practiſe of ſome is directly upon particular Rules of Scripture, by them apprehended and acknowledged: The practiſe of others (to whom the former Rules ſeem miſapplied) is upon more general Rules of Scripture (viz. Rules of Charity and Chriſtian Peace) which do by conſequence only, and not directly lead them to an Identity and Uniformity in their practiſe with the reſt of their Brethren. A general Rule may very well ſuperſede a particular; it is a maxime planted in the nature of things, which do often act contrary to the Rule of their particular nature, for the conſervation of the univerſe: and were we as well grounded upon it as our Brethren of New-England be, we ſhould both the more prefer the Peace and Tranquility of this Church (which is a general good) above our own private Intereſt, and the leſs cenſure them, who upon the ſame principle have ſomtimes taken (and will doubtleſs have the wiſdom always to take) juſt Animadverſion upon them that cauſe Diviſions and are diſturbers of the Churches Peace, though they may haply plead their Conſcience, and transform themſelves into Angels of Light.
As for this Reverend Author, who (amongſt others) is not ſatisfied touching the Charter of the Churches where he lives, and cannot yet finde in Scripture that the Lord Jeſus did ever give them Commiſsion to the full exerciſe of that Government which is there Eſtabliſhed; he did after long ſilence, at length acquaint his People, and the Reverend Presbyters of that countrey with his doubtings concerning the way they went in: And upon conference had with them about the particulars controverted betwixt them, finding himſelf ſtill unſatisfied both in their Arguments againſt him, and Anſwers to him (in neither of which he could perceive ſo much truth, as might convince him of Error, or move him from his own principles) but perceiving rather that jealouſies and miſunderſtandings of him did ariſe in the hearts of his Reverend fellow-Presbyters (whoſe love he did always eſtimate at a high rate) therefore that he might the more freely and fully, and at once declare what are the points he holds, and wherein he can or cannot concur with them, and the Reaſons why, he hath drawn up and publiſhed theſe ſhort notes; in the mean time reſolving that love ſhall ſet bounds to his enquiry after truth, and not under pretence of ſeeking truth to tranſgreſs the Rule and Law of love, according to the Apoſtles direction, Eph. 4.15. Following the truth in Love.foreign.
In all this Treatiſe it will be evident at firſt ſight that he is altogether free from a Spirit of Faction, ſeeking only truth and ſatisfaction; and therefore he hath ingeniouſly and impartially laid down his Judgement, which is in ſome things coincident with the judgment of the Reverend Presbyters in New-England: in ſome things conſenting with our Reverend Aſſembly here in England, and in ſome things diſtant from them both; being neither for Ariſtotle nor for Plato, but for Truth; neither for Paul nor for Apollo, but for Chriſt.
In his Stile he does affect to make his words and his matter commenſurable: for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. The truth is,1 Cor. 4.20. it is an Argument of want of Argument and of moſt odious Sophiſtry in moſt of the Disputers of this world, that they cannot ſpeak of an Argument, but it muſt be uſhered in with an out-braving Preface to raiſe the eſteem of the Author or Cauſe; that ſo the affections being bribed with fair speeches, the underſtanding may be won to aſſent to Error; which is the ſubtilty of the Serpent, not the ſimplicity of Chriſt; the jugling of a Seducer, not the craft of one that can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth.
Farewel.
THE TABLE.
COncerning the Vnity of the Church Pag. 1.
Of the matter and quantity of the Church p. 5.
Of the Form of the Church p. 8.
Of the Power of the Church p. 10.
Of the Officers of the Church p. 16.
Of the Power of the Presbytery p. 29.
Of the Power of Synods and Councels p. 49.
Of the Power of Magiſtrates about the Church p. 58.
Of their Power of Iuriſdiction in the Church p. 60.
Of Admiſsion of Members p. 62.
Of Impoſition of hands p. 69.
Concerning Excommunication p. 74.
Concerning the Retention of unnatural mediums of Worſhip p. 80.
Concerning the Morality of the Sabbath p. 83.
Of the beginning and ending of the Sabbath p. 89.
Of the maner of obſerving the Sabbath. p. 93.