Essay Towards Brotherly Peace and Union, Essay · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Church State.
Queſtion 1.
WHat think you of the Aſſemblies and Congregations of England?
Anſw. The faithful Congregations in England are true Churches of Chriſt. Mr. Hooker Survey of diſcipline, preface a 3.Mr. Hooker
Queſt. 2. But what is meant by faithful congregations?
Anſw. 1. There is the nature of a true viſible Church, where the word of God is purely preached,Mr. Cotton. the Sacraments duely adminiſtred, with diſcipline alſo according to the word of God. But then the Sacrament muſt not be adminiſtred to undue perſons, ſuch as are the ignorant and ſcandalous; nor the ignorant and ſcandalous muſt not be admitted into the Church, if diſcipline be rightly adminiſtred; yea though all theſe do not concur joyntly, yet the eſſence of a true Church may be found, though defective for integrity. Mr. Cotton, Holineſſe of church-members, pag. 10. line 17.
2. For where there hath been a Church that hath yeelded profeſſed ſubjection to the Goſpel of Chriſt, then in caſe a ſettled Miniſtry be continued there, God ſtill continues a true viſible Church there. Mr. Cotton holineſs of Church-members, pag. 5. line 12. And the eſſence of a true viſible Church is preſerved though there be found in it ſome hypocrites and ſome notoriouſly ſcandalous both in judgement and practice. Mr. Cotton holineſs of Church-members, p. 19. l. 1.
3. Neither doth the hypocriſie of ſundry members of the Church, and the toleration of ſome open ſcandals preſently take away the nature of the Church. Mr. Cotton, holineſs of Church-members, pag. 2. line 8.
4. For the members of the Church though orderly conſtituted, may in time grow corrupt, which though they ought not to be tolerated in the Church, yet their continuance therein, through the defect of the execution of diſcipline and Church-cenſures, doth not immediately diſſolve the being of the Church, as appears in the Church of Iſrael, and in the Churches of Galatia, Corinth, Pergamus, and Thyatira. Platform of diſcipline from New England, chap. 3. ſect. 3.
5. Yea if all the members of the Church ſhould make but an hypocritical ignorant and verbal profeſſion of Chriſt and faith in him, yet I will not deny but ſuch a ſociety may have the name of a Church; and thus far the nature of it, that the actions thereof are not null. Mr. Cotton holineſs of Church-members, p. 62. l. 33.
Queſt. 3. But there are many precious promiſes made to, and many glorious things ſpoke of the Church of Chriſt, and can they be truely applied to ſuch a Church as this?
Anſw. Look what promiſes are made to the inviſible Church,Mr. Cotton. they are for their ſakes offered to all the members of the viſible, whereof the lively are the chief. Mr. Cotton of infant baptiſme, p. 6. l. 9.
2. It is one thing to propheſie of the tranſcendent glorious happineſs of an exact pure Church in ſome age of it; another to command and foretell the perpetual continuance of it in ſuch a degree of purity. Mr. Cotton of infant bapt. p. 134. l. 20.
Queſt. 4. But were it not better therefore to gather the Saints, thoſe that are really gracious and holy into bodies by themſelves ſeparate from the reſt that are corrupt members?
Anſw. This were upon the point to caſt them upon ſuppoſal that theſe corrupt members be ſuch as receive her memberſhip in their infancy out of the Church,Mr. Cotton. and the Lord hath allowed but two cauſes for the caſting off any perſon out of the Church; firſt, obſtinacy perſiſted in after the admonition fo… an offence firſt private, Mat. 18.17. Secondly, breaking ou… into ſome heinous crime againſt the light of nature, 1 Cor. 5.11. Mr. Cotton holineſs of Church-members, p. 56. l. 21.
Queſt. But if ſuch members as theſe are, be not to be caſt out, nor withdrawn from, what is to be done?
Anſw. Such as are born of Chriſtian parents, and baptized in their infancy into the fellowſhip of the Church,Mr. Cotton. are initiated members of the ſame Church, though deſtitute of ſpiritual grace, untill they juſtly deprive themſelves of the priviledge of that fellowſhip, for even of ſuch is the Kingdom of God, Mark. 10.14. Mr. Cotton holineſs of Church-members, pag. 1. line 16.
2. Such members of the Church as were born in the ſame, and received their memberſhip in their infancy by vertue of the covenant of their parents, when growing to years of diſcretion they deſire to be made partakers of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, unto which, becauſe holy things are not to be given to the unworthy, therefore it is requiſite that theſe as well as others ſhould come to their tryal and examination, and manifeſt their faith and repentance by an open profeſſion thereof, before they be received to the Lords Supper, or otherwiſe not to be admitted thereto. Platform of diſcipline from New England, chap. 12. ſect. 7.
3. Yet theſe Church members that were ſo born, or received in their child-hood before they are capable of being made partakers of full communion, have many priviledges which others, not Church-members, have not, they are in covenant with God, have the ſeal thereof upon them, to wit, baptiſme; and ſo if not regenerate, are in a more hopeful way of attaining regenerating grace, and all the ſpiritual bleſſings both of the covenant and ſeal, they are alſo under Church-watch, and ſo conſequently ſubject to the reprehenſions, admonitions, and cenſures thereof for their healing and amendment as need ſhall require. Platform of diſcipline, chap. 12. ſect. 7.
Infants though born in the Church, yet if when they grow up to years, they ſhall degeenrate into a prophane or ſcandalous courſe, they ſhall not be tolerated to abide in the Church; yea if they ſhall not take hold of the covenant of their fathers, but content themſelves in an ignorant civil worldly courſe of life, they ſhall not be allowed to enter into the holy communion with the ſincere members of the Church at the Lords Table. Mr. Cotton of infant baptiſm, pag. 134. line 12. And this he ſpeaks of as the perfection of the New Hieruſalem.
Hitherto of Church-ſtate, now to draw ſome brief poſitions and inferences from theſe particulars.
1. The faithful Congregations of England are true Churches of Chriſt. See chap. 3. anſwer to the firſt queſtion. Therefore not to be departed from, nor their communion to be deſipiſed.
2. Where Word and Sacraments are duly adminiſtred, there is a faithful Congregation a true Church. See Chap. 3. queſt. 2. anſwer the firſt. Therefore ſuch a Congregation may challenge from every member of it, what ever duty is owing to any Church of Chriſt.
3. The eſſence of a true Church is preſerved though there be found in it ſome hypocries and ſome notoriouſly ſcandalous both in judgement and practice. See chapter 3. queſt. 2. anſw. 4.
4. Though all the members of a particular Church ſhould make but an ignorant hypocritical verbal profeſſion of Chriſt and faith in him, yet there remains not onelyonly the name, but the nature of a Church; ſo far that the actions thereof are not null. See chap. 3. queſt. 2. anſw. 5. Therefore quere whether there be any Congregation in England, ſo ignorant or ſcandalous as not to be capable of the name and nature of a Church according to this poſition.
5. Promiſes made to the viſible Church, are made to it for the ſake of the elect that are therein. See chap. 3. anſw. 11. queſt. 3.
6. God allows none tote caſt out of his Church, but for obſtinacy and heinous crimes againſt the light of nature. See chap. 3. anſwer to queſtion 4.
7. Such as were baptized in their infancy, as they are not to be received to full communion till they make profeſſion of faith and repentance, ſo neither are they to be rejected, but ſuffered, to enjoy many priviledges in the Church; as Church-watch, &c. for their healing and amendment, chap. 3. queſt. 5. Therefore the more injurious they who caſt off ſome hundreds of baptized ones in their congregtions, and ſurfer neither them nor their children to enjoy any more Church-privileges than meer Turkes or Heathens.