The Government of the Churches of Christ, Book 5 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
The Fourth Argument against Subordination of Synods, that it requireth Representations of Spiritual Power, arising from other Representations.
Arg. 4. THAT Government which necessarily requireth and produceth Representations, arising out of other Representations of Spiritual Power, having a Derived power therefrom, there is no Warrant for. But these Subordinations of Synods, Provincial, National, Oecumenical, for the Government of the Church do so, &c.
The Major shall be spoken to, after the Minor Proposition is both cleared and proved, which is done by putting two things together. 1. That if there be an Authoritative Subordination of all Churches in the Provinces, to a National Assembly, and so of many Nations to an Oecumenical, binding unto Subjection; that then all in the Provinces, must be interested in that National, and all in the Nation, in that Oecumenical; so as it may be said, that they are all involved and included, and so obliged, as it is in Parliamentary power, wherein the Shires are involved. 2. That this interest in this Subordination, cannot arise but either by immediate choice of those Elders who shall Represent them, by each Church and Congregation immediately (which is the case of our Parliament Men chosen immediately by those they Represent) or else, that the Provincial Elders sent by the Congregations, shall choose out of themselves, some few that shall Represent the Provinces; and so likewise the National Assemblies, shall choose out some few, that shall Represent the whole Nation in a General Council. Now the first of these is not, nor can be: The Congregations meet not for any such immediate choice; but the Elders of them, all choose out of themselves. So as the Obligation of all the Churches, to Subject to a National Assembly (arising out of those other Subordinations) is not because they are a greater number of Elders or Divines; for in a Provincial Synod, there may be Assembled as many, as in the National; but it ariseth from hence, that some out of all, do Represent the rest; and otherwise, when a National Assembly sits in a Great City, all other Neighbour-Ministers must come, and Vote with them, and Outvote them who are the Representers of the whole.
Now such a Representation, having a derived Spiritual power from other Representations, is not in matters Spiritual Warrantable. Besides all Arguments against delegated power in matters Spiritual, all Ministers being immediately Christi vicarii, and that all such Representations grow weaker, as Reflections use to do, Elders Represent the Churches in Classical and Provincial Assemblies, as being immediately chosen by them; but the Elders in National Assemblies, are the Representations of Elders in Provinces, and so are a shadow of that first shadow, whereas yet they have the most of power, even all that can be supposed to belong to the whole Substance. Besides such considerations, it is argued thus.
1. If that these few out of Nations, should bind all those Nations in matters Spiritual, and a few out of Provinces, the Nation, they must be supposed to have the the promise, and an Assistance answerable. But where is either the promise, or can Gifts in a few, be supposed to produce such an Obligation? 'Tis true, where two or three are gathered together, his promise is to be in the midst of them, and so suppose with more, when more are met; but that his promise should be to be with a few out of a Nation, as with the whole Nation; and those not chosen immediately by the Nation, but the Representers of them, cannot be expected. 'Tis granted, that each so met, hath the Gifts and Assistance of an Elder; and so the whole, as of so many Elders met (as we in this Assembly are to be lookt upon, and the Judgment thereof accordingly Reverenced.) But that as they are Elders Representative of Hundreds of other Elders, who themselves are Representers of Churches, that any such Addition should arise to them, by vertue of this Duplicated Representation, over and above what is in their single Gifts and Offices, let either a Warrant be produced, or a promise. Two things are allowed them; but a third denied them. 1. It is granted, they may have Assistance to Judge as Elders, which is their Office. 2. Assistance to Judge according to their Personal Abilities, being thus called to give their Advice. But 3. Such a Superadded Assistance, as holds proportion to that Spiritual Bulk and Body, which they Represent (for suppose that always it falls out, that the best and choicest of a Nation, are chosen; yet still not to hold proportion to a whole Nation) there must be a more than ordinary promise for it, and therefore had need be express and evident. That it is otherwise in Common-wealths, is because the Representations, and also the power conveyed, being Humane Creations, the Persons Represented, can set up a power which shall Represent them: But this power we speak of, is Supernatural, and must be from God, and his Institution. The Synhedrim of Jerusalem, had a special Assistance above all Courts else; and therefore God appointed causes to be brought to it, which special Assistance is intimated twice in the Institution of it, Deut. 17. by this, that they should go up to the place which God should choose, ver. 8. and do according to the Sentence which they of that place (which the Lord shall choose) shall shew thee. An Emphasis is put upon the Blessing, which by God's Choice and Election, did accompany that place which God had chosen, to put his Name, and promised to be in an eminent manner, present in, and to accept their Sacrifices there offered (which was a Representative Worship of that Nation) and not elsewhere. Now as that was the Representative Worship of the Nation, so these Governours were the Representative Governours of the Nation; and both Sanctified in that place, as the Gift was by the Altar, as that which God had chosen. If the like Institution were found, with the intimation of such a Blessing from a peculiar choice of God's, of National Assemblies, all ought to subject to them in matters Spiritual.
2. If there be such Representations as these, in one or few Persons of many Churches; they have each for that time, whilst in such an Assembly, Archiepiscopal and Episcopal power, and their case is Parallel (Parallel then for that time and occasion, and as met in a Synod) with that of so many Bishops, when met in a Council, whose Episcopal power, as then and therein met, lies in this, that they are so many Churches Representative, especially this would fall out, if these Synods should still consist of the same Men, or if some few should be always chosen to them. And why may there not be standing Persons, that are more Skillful in such Affairs, through exercise usually chosen, as well as standing Assemblies themselves? And then as touching matters of Jurisdiction in such an Assembly, they are for the present, the same with so many Bishops met in a Convocation.
3. If these Representations, having the power of all the Churches in the Nation, were Warrantable, they must be a Church. Besides, that they are no where so called (we leave the Usurpation of that Name, to the Popish Clergy) and if so, then a Body to Christ; for so every Church is, and where is Christ said to have a Representative Body, of his Body? They are a Church, that is, a company of Elders personally gathered, but a Representative Church they are not, cannot be; and yet must be, or they have not the power of all the Churches in a Nation in them, nor otherwise do their Acts oblige them to Subjection.