Essay Towards Brotherly Peace and Union, Essay · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of the Form and conſtitutions of a Church.
Queſtion 1.
WHether had the Church of England ever a true conſtitution?
Anſw. To ſay that the Church of England never had any true conſtitution,Mr. Cotton. is a raſh and a falſe ſpeech; raſh, for can you ſay it, or do you know it becauſe you were then born? or becauſe the number of your dayes is great? as God queſtioneth with Job in another caſe, Iob 38.21. Or have you found ſuch a matter by reading of ancient records and ſtories? If you dare credit them (as doubtleſs they are more worthy of credit that lived near thoſe times, and had the view of antient records, then ſome of your later books, who ſpeak either out of partiality to Rome, as the Jeſuites; or out of prejudice againſt the ſtate of the Church of England, ſome rigid Separatiſts do.) But thoſe antient records will tell you that England received the faith of Chriſt, by Ioſeph of Arimathea, and Simon Zelotes, and others of thoſe primitive Apoſtolick Saints, who doubtleſs planted Churches not after the pattern of Antichriſt, but after the manner of the Apoſtles. Mr. Cotton of infant Baptiſm; pag. 186. line 3. Therefore to ſay the Church of England never had a true conſtitution, is not onelyonly raſh but falſ…; for the Churches of England were rightly gathered and planted at the firſt. Mr. Cottons way of the Church, pag. 111. line 26.
Queſt. 2. But have n…t the Churches of England been wofully corrupted ſince by Antichriſtian uſurpations and innovations?
Anſw. 1. Yes; yet that did not caſt them into a worſe eſtate than the ten tribes in Iſrael under Ieroboam and his ſucceſſors, eſpecially under Ahab and I…ſabel, Mr. Cotton.and the time ſucceeding them when yet God owned them for his Church, and their circumciſion was not a nullity. Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. pag. 187. line 9.
2. For the Church now in being, moſt of their members had their admiſſion into the Church ſealed in Baptiſm. For many children are born in the Church, to whom the paſtor is by office a Paſtor, and whoſe converſion he is bound to attend and intend. Mr. Cotton of holineſſe of Church-members, pag. 51. line 21. And their baptiſm ſeals to them their initiation into Church-memberſhip. Ibi. pag. 96. line 31.
Queſt. 3. But they who are now Church-members, were baptized upon the account of the baptiſm of their forefathers; and they (that is their forefathers) were bap ized under Antichriſt, and ſo their baptiſm was a ſtone lying in Antichriſts foundation; and how can this give right of admiſſion into the Church of Chriſt?
Anſw. The baptiſm of believers and of their ſeed, is no more a ſtone lying in Antichriſts foundation, then is the doctrine of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt;Mr. Cotton. three perſons in one God, into which we and our children are baptized. That and other Goſpel-ordinances, they were in Rome but as the veſſels of the temple were in Babylon reſerved for the uſe of the Church after their return. Mr. Cotton of Infant baptiſm, pag. 163. line 28.
Queſt. 4. But to the true and right constitution of a Church, entring into covenant is neceſſary, is it not?
Anſw. 1 That was done in King Edward and Queen Elizabeths days;Mr. Cotton. and whereas they ſay our Church is but a Parliament conſtitution, that doth not weaken but eſtabliſh our Church. Mr. Cotton on the 1 Epiſt. of Iohn, 2 chap. 19 verſ. page 157. line 43, 44, amp;c.
2. The ſubſtance of the Church conſtituting covenant is ke…t where there is a real agreement and conſent of a company of faithful perſons to meet conſtantly together in one Congregation for the publike worſhip of God, and their mutual edification, which agreement and conſent they do expreſs by their conſtant practice of coming together for the publike worſhip of God, and Religious ſubjection to the Ordinances of God: Their Platform of Church diſcipline agreed upon by the Elders and meſſengers of the Churches in New England, chap. 4. ſect. 4.
3. The people in the Pariſhes of England, where there is a Miniſter put upon them by the Patron or Biſhop, they conſtantly hold them to the fellowſhip of the people of ſuch a place, attend all the Ordinances there uſed, and the diſpenſation of the Miniſter ſo impoſed upon them, ſubmit thereunto, perform all ſervices that may give countenance and encouragement to his perſon in the work of his Miniſtry. By ſuch actions and a fixed attendance upon all ſuch ſervices they declare that (conſent and covenant) by their practice which others do hold forth by publike profeſſion. Mr. Hooker Survey of diſcipline, part 1. pag. 47. line 36.
Queſt. 5. What then is the work that is now to do in the Churches of England?
Anſw. The work which is now to do in the Churches of England, is not to make Churches where there were none,Mr. Cotton. but to reduce them to their firſt primitive inſtitution. Mr. Cotton way of the Churches, pag. 151. line ult.
Hitherto of the conſtitution and form of a Church: Now out of this I ſhall alſo draw ſome few plain poſitions, with ſome inferences.
1. To ſay that the Church of England never had a true conſtitution, is a raſh and falſe ſpeech. See chapter 2. anſwer to the firſt question.
2. The Antichriſtian uſurpations and innovations that have overgrown the Church of England, have not nullified the firſt conſtitution of it. See chapter 2. anſwer to queſtion 2.
3. The baptiſm adminiſtred and received in the Church of England, is no more Antichriſtian then the doctrine of the Trinity. See chapter 2. anſwer to question the third. Therefore they are condemned who refuſe to be preſent in our aſſemblies, when baptiſme is adminiſtred.
4. Not onelyonly baptiſme, but other Goſpel-Ordinances were reſerved in Rome, for the uſe of the Church in after times, as the veſſels of the temple in Babylon. See chap. 2. anſwer to queſt. 3. Thence quere, why not ordination reſerved there for the Churches uſe as well as baptiſm, and yet no more Antichriſtian then baptiſm.
5. The engaging of the people to reformation by Edward the ſixth, and Queen Elizabeth, had the vertue of a covenant to conſtitute the Church. See Chapter ſecond, anſwer to queſtion the fourth. Therefore much more the late ſolemn league and covenant.
6. Peoples ordinary and fixed attending together upon one Miniſtery, and joyning ordinarily together in the duties of publike worſhip, hath the nature and vertue of a Church covenant. See chap. 2. anſw. to queſt. 4. And therefore they who moſt urge the neceſſity of a covenant, cannot condemn our Parochial aſſemblies as no Churches for want of ſuch a covenant.
7. The work now to do in England, is not to make Churches where none are, but to reduce them to their primitive inſtitution. See chap. 2. anſw. to queſt. 5. Therefore they who have troubled themſelves and the Church ſo much with conſtituting and gathering new Churches, have troubled themſelves and others with a work they have nothing to do withall; and ſo have cauſe to fear that the Lord Chriſt will ſay unto them another day, Who hath required this at your hands?