Of Schism, Discourse · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Of a particular Church: its nature. Frequently mentioned in Scripture. Particular Congregations acknowledged the only Churches of the first Inſtitution. What enſued on the multiplication of Churches. Some things premiſed to clear the unity of the Church in this ſence. Every Believer ordinarily obliged to joyne himſelfe to ſome particular Church: Many things in instituted worſhip anſwering a naturall principle. Perpetuity of the Church in this ſence. True Churches at first planted in England. How they ceaſed ſo to be. How Churches may be again reerected. Of the Ʋnion of a particular Church in its ſelfe. Foundation of that Ʋnion twofold. The Ʋnion its ſelfe. Of the communion of particular Churchers one with another. Our concernment in this Ʋnion.
I now deſcend to the laſt conſideration of a Church in the moſt uſuall Acceptation of that name in the New Teſtament;§. 1. that is, of a particular inſtituted Church. A Church in this ſence I take to be a Society of men, called by the word to the obedience of the Faith in Chriſt and joynt performance of the worſhip of God in the ſame individuall Ordinances, according to the order by Chriſt preſcribed. This generall deſcription of it exhibits its nature ſo farre as is neceſſary to cleare the ſubject of our preſent diſquiſition. A more accurate definition would only adminiſter farther occaſion of conteſting about things, not neceſſary to be determined as to the enquiry in hand. Such as this was the Church at Hieruſalem, that was perſecuted Act. 8. 1. The Church whereof Saul made havock v. 3. The Church that was vexed by Herod Act. 12. 1. Such was the Church at Antioch, which Aſſembled together in one place Act. 13. 14. wherein were ſundry Prophets Act. 13, 1. As that at Hieruſalem conſiſted of Elders and Bretherren Act. 15. 22. The Apoſtles or ſome of them being there then preſent, which added no other conſideration to that Church then that we are now ſpeaking of. Such were thoſe mens Churches wherein Elders were ordained by Pauls appointment Act. 14. 23. As alſo the Church of Coeſarea Act. 18. 22. & at Epheſus Act. 20. 14. 28. As was that at Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 2. c. 6. 4. & 11. 12. & 14. 4, 5. 12. 19. 2 Cor. 1▪ 1. And thoſe mentioned Rev. 1. 2, 3. All which Paul calls the Churches of the Gentiles Rom. 16. 4. in contradiſtinction to thoſe of the Jews, and calls them indefinitely the Churches of God, v. 16. or the Churches of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 7. 17. 2 Cor. 8 18. 19. 23. 2 Theſſ. 1. 4. and in ſundry other places. Hence we have mention of many Churches in one Country, as in Judaea Act. 9. 1. in Aſia. 1 Cor. 16. 19. in Macedonia 2 Cor. 8. 1. in Galatia Gal. 1. 2. the ſeven Churches of Aſia Rev. 1. 11. and unto foreign Act 16. 4. foreign anſwers v. 5. in the ſame Country.
I ſuppoſe that in this deſcription of a particular Church I have not only the conſent of them of all ſorts,§. 2. with whom I have now to doe, as to what remaines of this diſcourſe, but aſo their acknowledgment that theſe were the only kinds of Churches of the firſt Inſtitution. The Reverend Authors of the Jus Divinum Miniſterii Anglicani p. 2 c. 6. tell us, that in the Beginning of Chriſtianity the number of Believers even in the greateſt Citys were ſo few, as that they might all meet foreign in one and the ſame place. And theſe are called the Church of the City, and the Angell of ſuch a City was Congregationall not Dioceſan; which diſcourſe exhibits that ſtate of a particular Church, which is now pleaded for, and which ſhall afterwards be evinced, allowing no other, no not in the greateſt Cityes. In a rejoynder to that Treatiſe, ſo far at the caſe of Epiſcopacy is herein concerned, by a perſon well known by his labours in that cauſe, this is acknowledged to be ſo. Believers (ſaith he) in great Cityes were not at firſt divided into Pariſhes, whilſt the number of Chriſtians was ſo ſmall, that they might well aſſemble in the ſame place, Ham Vind. p. 16. Of the Believers of one City meeting in one place, being one Church, we have the like grant p. 18. In this particular Church, He ſayes, there was one Biſhop, which had the Rule of it, and of the Believers in the villages adjacent to that City; which as it ſometimes was not ſo, Rom. 16. 1, 2. ſo for the moſt part it ſeemed to have been the caſe; and diſtinct Churches upon the growth of the number of Believers, were to be erected in ſeverall places of the Voiſinage.
And this is the ſtate of a particular inſtituted Church which we plead for.§. 3. Whether in proceſſe of time, believers multiplying, thoſe who had been of one Church met in ſeverall Aſſemblies, by a ſetled diſtribution of them, to celebrate the ſame Ordinances ſpecifically, and ſo made many Churches; or met in ſeverall places in parties, ſtill continuing one body, and were governed in common by the Elders, whom they increaſed and multiplied, in proportion to the increaſe of believers; or whether, that one or more Officers, Elders, or Biſhops of that firſt ſingle Congregation, taking on him or them, the care of thoſe inhabiting the City, wherein the Church was firſt planted, deſigned, and ſent ſome fitted for that purpoſe, upon their deſire & choice, (or otherwiſe) to the ſeverall leſſer companies of the Region adjacent, which in proceſſe of time became dependent on, & ſubject to the Officer and Officers of that firſt Church, from whence they came forth, I diſpute not. I am ſatisfied, that the firſt plantation of Churches was as hath been pleaded. And I know what was done afterwards on the one hand, or the other, muſt be examined, as to our concernment, by what ought to have been done. But of thoſe things afterwards.
Now according to the courſe of procedure hitherto inſiſted on,§. 4. a Declaration of the Ʋnity of the Church in this ſenſe, what it is, wherein it doth conſiſt, with what it is to be guilty of the breach of that Unity, muſt enſue; and this ſhall be done after I have premiſed ſome few things previouſly neceſſary thereunto.
I ſay then
1. A man may be a member of the Catholick Church of Chriſt,§. 5. be united to him by the inhabitation of his Spirit, and participation of his life from him, who upon the account of ſome providentiall hinderance, is never joyned to any particular Congregation, for the participation of Ordinances all his daies.
2. In like manner may he be a member of the Church conſidered as profeſſing viſibly. §. 6.Seeing that he may doe all that is of him required thereunto, without any ſuch conjunction to a viſible particular Church. But yet,
3. I willingly grant,§. 7. that every believer is obliged, as in a part of his duty, to joyne himſelfe to ſome one of thoſe Churches of Chriſt; that therein he may abide in Doctrine, and Fellowſhip, and breaking of Bread, and Prayer, according to the order of the Goſpell, if he have advantage and opportunity ſo to doe; for,
1. There are ſome duties incumbent on us,§. 8. which cannot poſſibly be performed, but on a ſuppoſition of this duty previouſly required, and ſubmitted unto. Math. 18. 15, 16, 17.
2. There are ſome Ordinances of Chriſt,§. 9. appointed for the good, and benefit of thoſe that believe, which they can never be made partakers of, if not related to ſome ſuch ſociety. As publick Admonition, Excommunication, Participation of the Sacraments of the Lords Supper.
3 The care that Jeſus Chriſt hath taken, §. 10.that all things be well ordered in theſe Churches, giving no direction for the performance of any duty of worſhip meerly and purely of ſoveraigne Inſtitution, but only in them, and by them, who are ſo joyned, ſufficiently evidence his mind, and our duty herein. Rev. 2. 7. 11. 29. Rev. 3. 6. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 11.
4. The gathering, planting, §. 11.and ſetling of ſuch Churches by the Apoſtles, with the care they took in bringing them to perfection, leaving none, whom they converted, out of that Order, where it was poſſible for them to be reduced unto it, is of the ſame importance, Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5.
5. Chriſts inſtitution of Officers for them,§. 12. Eph. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 11. 28. calling ſuch a Church his Body v. 29. exactly aſſigning to every one his duty in ſuch Societies, in reſpect of the place he held in them, with his care for their preſervation from confuſion, and for Order, evinces from whom they are, and what is our duty in reference unto them.
6. The judging and condemning them by the Holy Ghoſt,§. 13. as diſorderly blameable perſons, who are to be avoided, who walk not according to the Rules and Order appointed in theſe Churches, his care that thoſe Churches be not ſcandalized, or offended with innumerable other conſiderations, evince their inſtitution to be from Heaven, not of men, or any prudentiall conſiderations of them whatever.
That there is an inſtituted worſhip of God to be continued under the New Teſtam. §. 14.untill the ſecond coming of Chriſt, I ſuppoſe needs not much proofe. With thoſe with whom it hath ſoe, I am not now treating, and muſt not make it my buſineſſe to give it evidence, by the innumerable Teſtimonies which might be alleadged to that purpoſe. That for the whole of his worſhip, matter, or manner, or any part of it, God hath changed his way of proceeding, and will now allow the will, and Prudence of Man, to be the meaſure, and rule of his Honour and Glory therein, contrary to what he did, or would allow under the Law, is ſo prejudiciall to the perfection of the Goſpell▪ infinite Wiſdome, and All-ſufficiency of Chriſt, and ſo deſtructive to the whole obligation of the ſecond Commandement, having no ground in the Scripture, but being built meerly on the conceit of men, ſuited to one carnall intereſt or other, I ſhall unwillingly debate it. That as to this particular under conſideration, there were particular Churches inſtituted by the Authority of Jeſus Chriſt, owned and approved by him; that Officers for them were of his appointment, and furniſhed with gifts from him for the Execution of their employment; that Rules, Cautions, and Inſtructions for the due ſettlement of thoſe Churches, were given by him; that theſe Churches were made the only ſeat of that worſhip, which in particular he expreſſed his will to have continued untill he came, is of ſo much light in Scripture, that he muſt wink hard, that will not ſee it.
That either he did not originally appoint theſe things,§. 15. or he did not give out the gifts of his Spirit, in reference to the right ordering of them, and exalting of his Glory in them, or that having done ſo then, yet that his inſtitutions have an end, being only for a ſeaſon▪ and that it may be known when the efficacy of any of his institutions ceaſeth, or that he doth not now diſpenſe the gifts and graces of his Spirit, to render them uſefull, is a difficult taske for any man to undertake to evince.
There is indeed in the inſtitutions of Chriſt,§. 16. much that anſwers a naturall principle in men, who are on many accounts formed and fitted for ſociety. A Confederation and conſultation to carrie on any deſigne, wherein the concernment of the individualls doth lye, within ſuch bounds, and in ſuch order as lyes in a ready way to the end aymed at, is exceeding ſuitable to the principles whereby we are acted and guided as men. But he that would hence conclude, that there is no more but this, and the acting of theſe principles, in this Church conſtitution, whereof we ſpeake, and that therefore men may be caſt into any prudentiall forme; or appoint other wayes and formes of it, then thoſe mentioned in the Scripture, as appointed, and owned, takes on himſelfe the demonſtrating that all things neceſſarily required to the Conſtitution of ſuch a Church ſociety, are commanded by the Law of nature, and therefore allowed of, and approved only by Chriſt, & ſo to be wholy morall, and to have nothing of inſtituted worſhip in them; and alſo he muſt know, that when on that ſuppoſition, he hath given a probable Reaſon, why never any perſons in the world fixed on ſuch ſocieties in all Eſſentiall things as thoſe, ſeeing they are Naturall, that he leaves leſſe to the Prudence of men and to the ordering and diſpoſing of things concerning them, then thoſe, who make them of pure inſtitution, all whoſe circumſtances cannot be derived from themſelves; as thoſe of things purely morall may. But this is not of my preſent conſideration.
2. Nor ſhall I conſider, §. 17.whether perpetuity be a property of the Church of Chriſt in this ſence; that is, not whether a Church that was once ſo, may ceaſe to be ſo, which it is known I plead for in the inſtance of the Church of Rome, not to mention others; but whether by vertue of any promiſe of Chriſt, there ſhall alwayes be ſomewhere in the world, a viſible Church, viſibly celebrating his Ordinances. Luc. 1. 33. He ſhall raigne over the houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdome there ſhall be no end; is pleaded to this purpoſe. But that any more, but the ſpirituall raigne of Chriſt in his Catholick Church, is there intended, is not proved▪ Mat. 16. 18. upon this Rock will I build my Church, is alſo urged; but to intend any but true Believers, and that as ſuch, in that promiſe, is wholly to enervate it, and to take away its force and efficacy. Mat. 18. 18, 20. declares the preſence of Chriſt with his Church where ever it be, not that a Church in the regard treated of, ſhall be. To the ſame purpoſe are other expreſſions in the Scripture. As I will not deny this in Generall; ſo I am unſatisfyed as to any particular inſtance for the making of it good.
It is ſaid,§. 18. that true Churches were at firſt planted in England; how then, or by what means did they ceaſe ſo to be? How, or by what Act did God unchurch them? They did it themſelves Meritoriouſly by Apoſtacy and Idolatry, God Legally by his Inſtitution of a Law of rejection of ſuch Churches. If any ſhall aske, How then is it poſsible, that any ſuch Churches ſhould be raiſed a new? I ſay, that the Catholick Church myſticall, and that viſibly profeſſing, being preſerved entire, he that thinketh there needs a miracle, for thoſe who are members of them, to joyne in ſuch a Society, as thoſe now ſpoken of, according to the Inſtitution of Chriſt, is a perſon delighting in needleſſe ſcruples.
Chriſt hath promiſed,§. 19. that where two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be in the midſt of them, Mat. 18. 20. It is now ſuppoſed, with ſome hope to have it granted, that the Scripture being the power of God to Salvation, hath (Rom. 1. 16.) a ſufficient efficacy and energie in it ſelfe, as to its own kind, for the converſion of Soules; yea let us, till oppoſition be made to it, take it for granted, that by that force and efficacy it doth mainly and principally evince its own Divinity, or divine Originall. Thoſe, who are contented for the honour of that word, which God delighteth to magnify, to grant this Suppoſition, will not I hope, think it impoſſible, that though all Church ſtate ſhould ceaſe in any place, and yet the Scripture by the providence of God be there in the hand of individualls preſerved, two or three ſhould be called, converted, and regenerated by it. For my part, I think, he that queſtions it, muſt doe it on ſome corrupt principle of a ſecondary dependent Authority in the word of God as to us; with which ſort of men I doe not now deale. I aske whether theſe converted perſons may nor poſsibly come together, or aſſemble themſelves in the name of Jeſus? may they not upon his command, and in Expectation of the accompliſhment of his promiſe, ſo come together, with Reſolution to doe his will, and to exhort one another thereto, Zech. 3. 10. Mal. 3. 10. Truly I believe they may, in what part of the world ſoever their lot is fallen. Here lye all the difficulties, whether being come together in the name of Chriſt they may doe, what he hath commanded them, or no? whether they may exhort, and stirre up one another to doe the will of Chriſt. Moſt certain it is, that Chriſt will give them his preſence, & therewithall his Authority, for the performance of any duty, that he requireth at their hands. Were not men angry, troubled, and diſappointed, there would be little difficulty in this buſineſſe. But of this elſewhere.
3. Upon this ſuppoſition, that particular Churches are Inſtitutions of Jeſus Chriſt, which is granted by all, with whom I have to doe; I proceed to make enquiry into their Ʋnion and Communion, that ſo we may know wherein the bonds of them doe conſiſt.
1. There is a double foundation, §. 20.fountain, or cauſe of the Ʋnion of ſuch a Church; the one externall, procuring, commanding; the other internall, inciting, directing, aſſiſting. The firſt is the Inſtitution of Jeſus Chriſt, before mentioned, requiring Peace, and Order, Ʋnion, Conſent, and Agreement, in and among all the members of ſuch a Church; all to be regulated, ordered, and bounded, by the Rules, Laws, Preſcripts, which from him they have received, for their walking in thoſe Societies.
The Latter is that Love without diſſimulation, which alwaies is, or which alwaies ought to be, between all the members of ſuch a Church, exerting it ſelfe in their reſpective duties one towards another, in that holy combination, whereunto they are called and enter'd for the Worſhip of God: whether they are thoſe, which lye in the levell of the equality of their common intereſt of being Church-members, or thoſe which are required of them in the ſeverall differences, whereby on any account whatever, they are distinguiſhed one from another amongſt themſelves; for love is the bond of perfectneſſe. Col. 3. 14.
Hence then it appears, what is the Ʋnion of ſuch a Church, and what is the communion to be obſerved therein, by the appointment of Jeſus Chriſt. The joynt conſent of all the members of it, in obedience to the command of Chriſt, from a principle of Love, to walk together in the univerſall celebration of all the Ordinances of the worſhip of God, inſtituted and appointed to be celebrated in ſuch a Church, and to performe all the duties, and offices of Love, which in reference to one another, in their reſpective ſtations and places, are by God required of them; and doing ſo accordingly. See Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. cap. 4. 1, 2, 3. 1 Cor: 1. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 11. Rom. 15. 5.
Whereas there are in theſe Churches, ſome Rulers, §. 21.ſome Ruled; ſome eyes, ſome hands in this Body, ſome parts viſibly comely, ſome uncomely; upon the account of that variety of gifts and graces which is diſtributed to them; in the performance of duties, regard is to be had to all the particular Rules, that are given with reſpect to men in their ſeverall places and diſtributions. Herein doth the Ʋnion of a particular Church conſiſt; herein have the members of it communion among themſelves, and with the whole.
4. I ſhall farther grant,§. 22. and adde hereunto: Over and above the Ʋnion that is between th… members of ſeverall particular Churches, by vertue of their intereſt in the Church Catholick, which draws after it a neceſſity of the occaſionall exerciſe of duties of Love one towards another, and that Communion they have, as members of the generall Church viſible, in the profeſſion of the Faith once delivered unto the Saints; There is a Communion alſo to be obſerved between theſe Churches, as ſuch, which is ſometimes, or may be exerted in their Aſſemblies by their Delegates, for declaring the ſenſe, and determining things of joynt concernment unto them. Whether there ought to be an ordinary combination of the Officers of theſe Churches, inveſted with the Power for the diſpoſall of things & Perſons, that concerne one or more of them, in ſeverall ſubordinations, by the inſtitution of Chriſt; as it is not my judgement that ſo there is, ſo it belongs not unto my preſent undertaking at all to debate.
That which alone remaines to be done,§. 23. is to conſider, what is our concernment as to the breach of this Ʋnion, which we profeſſe to be appointed by Jeſus Chriſt; and that both as we are Proteſtants, as alſo farther differenced according to the intimations given at the entrance of this Diſcourſe. What hath already been delivered about the nature of Schiſme, and the Scripture Notion of it, might well ſuffice, as to our Vindication in this buſineſſe from any charge that we are, or ſeem obnoxious unto. But becauſe I have no… reaſon to ſuppoſe, that ſome men will be ſo favourable unto us, as to take paines for the improvement of principles, though in themſelves clearely evinced on our behalfe; The application of them to ſome preſent caſes, with the removall of objections that lye againſt my intendment, muſt be farther added.
Some things there are,§. 24. which upon what hath been ſpoken, I ſhall aſſume and ſuppoſe as granted in Theſi, untill I ſee them otherwiſe diſproved, then as yet I have done. Of theſe the firſt is. That the departing or ſeceſſion of any man or men, from any particular Church, as to that communion, which is peculiar to ſuch a Church, which he or they have had therewith, is no where called Schiſme, nor is ſo in the nature of the thing it ſelfe, (as the generall ſignification of the word is reſtrained by its Scripture uſe) but is a thing to be judged, & receive a little according to the cauſes and circumſtances of it.
2. One Churches refuſing to hold that communion with another,§. 25. which ought to be between them, is not Schiſme properly ſo called.
3. The departure of any man or men,§. 26. from the Society or Communion of any Church whatever, ſo it be done without ſtrife, variance, judging, and condemning of others, becauſe according to the light of their Conſciences, they cannot in all things in them worſhip God according to his minde, cannot be rendred evill but from circumſtances taken from the perſons ſo doing, or the way and manner, whereby and wherein they doe it.
Unto theſe I adde,§. 27. that if any one can ſhew and evince that we have departed from, and left the communion of any particular Church of Chriſt, with which we ought to walke according to the order above mentioned, or have diſturbed and broken the Order and Ʋnion of Chriſts Inſtitution, wherein we are or were inwrapped, we put our ſelves on the mercy of our judges.
The Conſideration of what is the charge on any of us, on this account, was the firſt thing aymed at in this Diſcourſe, and as it was neceſſary from the Rules of the method wherein I have proceeded, comes now in the laſt place to be put to the iſſue and triall, which it ſhall in the Next Chapter.