The Government of the Churches of Christ, Book 5 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
The several Duties of Communion, which one Church ows to another, Enumerated. That this Communion doth not include in it, that one Church may exercise any Act of Jurisdiction over another.
HEnce then all sort of Duties, that the Law of Love and Brotherly Union can any way exact or extend to, and that are founded thereupon in the Word of God, of Saints to Saints, and Church to Church, we approve of, and Judge ought to be held by any Church, to all Churches in the World; which we take to be the true meaning of that Scripture, in Ephes. 4. 16. that the whole Body of the Church being joyned together, every part is to edifie every part, and the whole, upon all occasions, and in all ways possible; but it is in ways of Brotherly Love, it is not with a Spiritual Rod, but of coercive censure and jurisdiction. The Bonds and Tyes of Law, are acknowledged, not Rods and Whips of coercive censure, and Jurisdiction Sub paena Traditionis Satanae, under the penalty of delivering to Satan.
1. Thus first, They are to afford part of their Spiritual good things, as occasion is, to all or any Church: So by vertue of that communion, the Church of Philippi, was bound to cause to be read, as much as in them lay, that Epistle which was Writ to them in the Church of Laodecea also, which was one of the Asian Churches; yet that their causing that Epistle to be received by the Laodeceans, was not by any Jurisdiction, but by communion of good things.
2. There may be communion in whatever is matter of meer priviledge in any Church; but not in Jurisdiction. Yea, there may be Associations, and Leagues of Friendship, as between two States, when yet not Subjection, thus between Kingdoms, a mutual intercourse of Trade. As he that was free of Rome, was free all the World over, and he might come and Trade in any other Kingdom; so any that are Members of such Churches as profess both, for receiving in of Members, and casting out of Members, to go according to the Rule of the Word, may occasionally receive the Sacrament in any Church truly constituted, and bring their Children to be Baptized, and may partake of all the Ordinances; for this is only to partake of the common priviledges, but they are not to exercise any act of power or punishment, when they come to those other Churches; as if a Minister were to be chosen, or a Member to be thrown out, or Suspended from the Sacrament, they are not to take upon them, to have a voice in it. Between two Families, there may be communion of good things, without exercising of Acts of Power and Authority; when as one Family doth not take upon them, to exercise Authority in the other Family, as not to chastise the Children, to dispose of parties in Marriage; nor is there any communion in conjugal Acts. So in Common-wealths, there is a communion of things communicable, as to afford Men, Money, and Assistance, to give Subsistence to any one that will live in a Stranger Kingdom: But they are not admitted to choice of Magistrates, to Judge of Causes, to be of a Jury in any Nation, but their own.
3. Also Thirdly, There is that Brotherly communion between Churches, that whom one Church denies communion with, having cast him out by a just censure, all the rest of the Churches do Reject him also; which was an usual practice in the primitive times, as often Cyprian Writes to other Churches, saying, Abstinuimus, we have abstained from such or such a Man, that they might have warning not to admit communion with him. And this seems to be one great end of Synods, as appears from the fifth Cannon in the Nicene Council before cited. And the Reason is fetched from that principle, which both Mr. Cartwright, and Didoclavius assert, that we have communion with the Universal Church, by means of being joyn'd to Book 3. ch. 8. pag. 148. Of this Discourse.a particular Church; for communion with the Universal Church, we cannot have immediately, and yet by vertue of a particular Church, we enjoy the same kind of Ordinances, as if the whole Universal Church should meet together: Hence Altar. Damascen. cap. 10. pa: 853.therefore, as we have communion with the whole Universal Church, by having communion with a particular Church, so we are cast out of all Churches, by vertue of being cast out of one; the trust being committed by Christ, to particular Churches: And the Law of Ecclesiastical Society, and Brotherly communion between Churches, requires it; that if they be cast out by one, they are Rejected by all; for there is that Sympathy and Concordance between all the Members of this Body, as one Body, and so between particular Churches, as Members of this whole, that as when one Member suffers, all suffers; when one Member rejoyceth, all rejoyceth, so whom one Church casteth out, all Churches casteth out, and whom one receives, all receives by vertue of this communion. Or if, when it is bound by a particular Church, it is bound in Heaven, then all the Earth over too; all Churches being to Reverence the Act and Judgment of a particular Church, with whom Christ hath betrusted the Keys. So as all the Churches do not Reject such an one, by an Act of Jurisdiction, or of interest in the Jurisdiction, but by the Law of communion; and by the like Law, that there is among Kingdoms, where there is Leagues Offensive and Defensive, to be Enemies to those that are Enemies to any of them, and not to Harbour those whom they have thrown out, and to be Friends to those that they are Friends to, and that are their Allies.
4. There may be a communication, by a sending out of Elders from Churches, to Churches that want; yet without Jurisdiction, or the choosing of Elders for them, or putting Elders upon them. So Anciently, the Bishops in Cities did Instruct and Educate young Men, to fit them for the Ministry, whom afterward they sent out to the Villages that wanted (as young Men in Colledges, now under a Master) but yet (as our Divines against Bishops have argued) that did not prove a Jurisdiction, as in Colledges it doth not. So the Church in the Canticles, Cant. 8. 8, 9. speaking of a Sister Church she had, which wanted Breasts, by way of communication of good things, she afforded help, but yet without Jurisdiction, for she was her Sister. For still those Elders which in that case they should send out and afford, and part withal from themselves, or any other Church, are to be received and chosen by that Church, as Elders to them; and no way by vertue of any Jurisdiction, in the Church that lends them.
5. So also in matter of Advice, there is communion between the Churches. There Diocesan Trial, p. 72.is a double Direction (as Baynes Distinguisheth) one Potestativa, Autoritativa, the other Sociacia, or Social, as one Servant that hath more experience than another, may give Advice to another upon occasion. An Advice we acknowledge in Churches, by vertue of this communion; but then let it be but Advice, and where there is need. And so now in difficult cases, we acknowledge they are bound to Advise with other Churches; and in case of Miscarriages, they are to be Advised, and Admonished by other Churches. But when they do Advise, that such a Man should be Excommunicated, for such an Act done, they do not add Authority to that Church: Jesus Christ hath furnished the Church with sufficient Authority in it self, only they add Counsel, and Direction, and Countenance: Moral strength or countenance they add, but not political Power or Authority. There is as much power in the Church it self, to deal with its own Members alone of it self, as in all the Churches of the World, put together: But this Advise is given, but as Alms is given to a Neighbour-Church. And again, that Advice, as to the object of it, is properly but only to give their Judgment of the Rule; it is not a joynt putting forth the Act of Administration of an Ordinance, in a way of Application of the censure to the Persons: Neither is a Congregation bound up by the Institution of Christ, to Advise so, as if they do not Advise with a Neighbour-Presbytery, the Act is Null, and made Void, which they do, as if by Christ's Institution it were so, that they ought to Advise, such their case would be. In Babylon, they had such Elders as came to enquire, but not to judge, Ezek. 14. 1. & 20. 1. But all this Obligation to Advise in such cases, and the help that the Churches do give, ariseth (as our Brethren themselves say, in their answers to our Reasons) Ex Charitate, ex debito mutuae societatis colendae, from Charity, and the Duty of maintaining Mutual Fellowship, as is between Friends and Equals; Non ex debito inferioris conditionis ad praestandum Pag. 49.obsequium, not from any Duty, obliging the Inferior to Obedience. And all that they there say afterward, pag. 50. unto line 16. we acknowledge. And since they say it is ex debito societatis colendae only, and ex charitate, or as others have expressed it, Jure fraternitatis, by the Right of Brotherhood; and that the communion between Churches, according to their own expressions, is founded but upon that ground, hence therefore it can never grow up to Jus Jurisdictionis, a Right of Jurisdiction; for if the communion of these Churches, be in a way of Fraternity, then the Acts it ariseth to, will be but Acts of communion in a Brotherly way, but for the communion of Friendship to arise to Acts of Jurisdiction, exceedeth the Sphere of it, as the Acts of Grace, exceed the Acts of Nature. And if it be said, that all Acts in a Church, are Acts of Brotherly communion; it is answered, they are Acts of Brotherly communion, in distinction to Magisterial power, or such power, as a Master hath over his Servants. It is not Lordly Power; but the power of Spiritual Jurisdiction, is a middle thing, between that of meer Brotherhood, which is between Saint and Saint, or Church and Church, and that which is Lordly; for it is a power Ministerial, erected by Jesus Christ, and by Institution, having also a Spiritual punishment, put into their Hands, to execute it, with a promise to accompany it.
6. One Church is bound to communicate to another their Temporal things, to send Alms, &c. and one Man may be chosen by several Churches, to carry in their several Alms, to several Churches, as (2 Cor. 7. 19.) it is said of Titus, that he was chosen of the Churches, for that Service, the contribution being to be carryed from many Churches. But it is not to be said, that all those Churches met, when he was chosen; but his Office, being the Office of an Evangelist, to Travel up and down from Church to Church, he was by a Tacite consent chosen, first by one, then of another, and so of a third; otherwise the Apostle would have said, he was chosen of the Church of such a Province, if all the Churches had been united into a Synod, when it was done; but in that he saith Churches, it implies, that they were a part, when he was chosen. But if it had been such a common meeting; yet it was not an Act of Jurisdiction, it was by a common consent, to carry Alms; and such Acts in Synods, we acknowledge.
7. We acknowledge, that there are Res communes, things in common, that concern many Churches alike, in a Brotherly way. There were between the Apostles themselves, some things that were Res communes, as that they should confer, to see how far they should agree in the same Doctrine; and how far God had Revealed the same things to them, as Paul went up to that end, to confer with the Apostles at Jerusalem, Gal. 2. And yet there was not an Authority, that the greater number of the Apostles had in matter of Doctrine over another Apostle. We acknowledge, that the setting up Ministers over particular Churches, is Res communis; because the Transactions of all Business's between Neighbour-Churches, is ordinarily done by the Elders thereof; and therefore the bringing in a new of Ministers to such Associations, should be with their Privicy and Knowledge. But that will not arise to this, that the Neighbour-Ministers have the power of Ordination, the power of Deposition, or that they have a Negative Vote, by way of Jurisdiction, to which the Church must by vertue of an Institution submit: They may give the Right Hand of Fellowship, and it may be a due, Ex debito fraternae charitatis, from the Duty of Brotherly Love, that a Church, when it chooseth its Elders, should ask the Right Hand of Fellowship from other Churches; but it must be remembred, that it is but giving the Right Hand of Fellowship, it is not giving the Right Hand of Authority to choose them their Elders, or to lay Hands on them. Because that Marriages are of a publick concernment to a Commonwealth, and to Families in a Common-wealth; therefore States are to be acquainted with Marriages, but the Power and Authority to guide them whom they should Marry, lies in the Parents, and in the Persons that are to Marry; and they may Marry whom they will, only in the Lord. And such a Respect to other Churches, it is no more an Act of Subjection to them, as having Jurisdiction then according to our Brethren's Principles, it is a Subjection in the Elders not to Excommunicate, if the People (who they say have no interest of Authority, or of a Negative Voice at all) should be against the Excommunicating of a Person.
As there are these ways of communion, differing from Government; so there are Vide Zanch. in Eph. 4. in Tom. 6. oper.certain Tyes and Bands, some more general, some more special among all Churches, by which this communion is to be exercised, as appeareth by Ephes. 4.
There is 1. That General Tye and Obligation of the Church-Catholick, which we acknowledge to be the chief Fundamental Relation or Obligation (Transcendent above all others) of communion of Churches: the other particular being but several Respects and Relations, that do knit more fastly by vertue of it.
2. We do acknowledge that every particular Church is to be considered as a Member of the Church-Catholick, as 1 Cor. 12. 27, the Apostle speaks of the Universal Body, in the words afore, and in the words after. But although it be a part of the Church Universal, yet not of the Church Universal, considered as a Ministerial Body, that hath Jurisdiction in it; but as being a Mystical Body, and it is therefore obliged to perform to other Churches, by vertue of this Catholick Obligation, only all such Duties of Christian communion, as proceedeth in a Mystical way, as hath been shewn. So as we profess our selves wronged, to have this put upon us, that in gathering of Churches, we make separate Churches from all the World; but do acknowledge as many, and as great Duties in a way of communion, to lie between us and all other Churches, as according to their Assertion, there are Duties of exercising Jurisdiction and Subjection, respectively among themselves.
3. They are to look also to the other Churches Elders, as Elders, and accordingly to Reverence them; but yet not as Elders, they carry Jurisdiction over all Churches, about with them. It will be hard to shew wherein Ministers have power of Jurisdiction over Persons that belong not to their own Churches.
If it be acknowledged that they are Elders, and so to be looked upon by other Churches; yet still but by vertue, and in the way of a Mystical communion, as all things in the World are the Saints, 1 Cor. 3. 21, 22. Therefore let no Man glory in Men, for all things are yours: Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours.
Again, there are two things to be considered in every Elder. There is first his Separation unto the work of the Ministry, and unto Christ, that he is Dedicated, and set apart to him: And then in the second place, there is his Relation of an Elder, to this or that particular Church.
Now his particular Relation of an Elder to this or that Church, may cease by the Churches ceasing, by the Death of the Members, or by his Removal or Absence, when yet his Separation to Christ, and the Relation that is between Christ and him, continueth: It is here, as in the case of Widdows, as they were Dedicated to Christ, as Widdows, and should have waxed wanton against Christ, if they had Marryed; so he, if he should (unless upon an absolute necessity) divert to another calling, he would offend against Christ. And if his Relation to a Church, should thus cease; yet the Blessing of Christ, in Respect of his Dedication to him, might follow him in his Preaching unto those, who yet perhaps would not acknowledge him to be their Elder, in Respect of Relation to them. And the power of Jurisdiction, that he hath together with other Elders, is (for the exercise of it) in Respect of his fixed Relation to that particular Church, to whom he is an Elder: And therefore, although in many Ministerial Acts, he may have the Blessing of an Elder secretly accompanying of him from Christ; yet he cannot claim the power of an Elder, in respect of Jurisdiction. The Apostles themselves, had the Blessing of Apostles, and Ministers of Christ in their Preaching to them that were without; and yet they had not a Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical over them that were without; What have I to do to Judge them that are without? saith Paul, 1 Cor. 5. 12.
Again, our Divines have Distinguished, that there is Potestas ordinis, and Potestas Jurisdictionis, in Ministers and Elders; Power of Order, and Power of Jurisdiction; and that there are Acts, which are Acts of meer Power of Order of his Office, as an Elder, which he may perform alone, as to Preach, and the like; and that power he may carry along with him, where ever he goes; because he performs it personally, in respect of his Dedication to God and Christ: But the power of Jurisdiction is a farther thing, which therefore he exerciseth with other Elders; and with other Elders not materially considered, but as formed up into the Relation of Presbytery, to a Church which is to be the Seat of it. Power of Jurisdiction, is an External power, and therefore dependeth upon an External Relation to Men; but the Blessing and Power, that accompanieth his Ministerial Acts, to Preach, and the like, that depends principally upon his being Dedicated unto God, and is internal, and hath a more special Relation to God, according to which Relation, Men where ever he cometh, Reverence him, and receive him; and the Blessing of God may accompany him. And therefore this power of Jurisdiction with others is not to be extended beyond the Seat, the Church, to which he hath Relation. As is the case also of Magistrates, if you could suppose, that besides the Relation of a King to his People, in respect of which, he hath a Jurisdiction as a King over them, that there were such a Dedication and Separation of him to this Office, that where ever he came, he were a King in respect of some Acts, had a Kingly Spirit, Kingly Wisdom, to give Counsel in an Diety or Assembly of King's and Princes in the World, he might be received in all such, to perform such Acts; when yet he could not perform an Act of Jurisdiction; because that's founded upon that special Relation he hath to his own People.
And it is in respect of the communion of Churches, and other Elders, as it is in respect of Churches, and the Brethren of other Churches. If the Brethren of other Churches, few or more, occasionally come to a particular Church in a City, where, a Mart of Men coming from many Cities, is kept, if they receive them to all the meer Priviledges of that Church, by vertue of their Church-communion; yet they would not receive them, so as to sit and Vote with them, in the choice of Officers, or the like; because that's an Act that properly concerns that particular Church, whereof he is to be an Officer. So answerably, a particular Church, may receive the Elders of other Churches, and receive them as Elders, in respect of some Acts, as Preaching and the like; but not in respect of Acts of Jurisdiction, which we believe our Brethren themselves, would deny to the Elders of other Churches: As for example, if upon an occasion, the Elders of other Churches, belonging to other Presbyteries, should be present at some one classical Presbytery, although they would receive them as Elders, and Reverence them as such; yet they would not have them to sit with them, and Vote, so as that the Vote of those Stranger Elders, which yet they acknowledge Elders, should over-rule, or cast the Acts of their Presbytery. They would perhaps hear their Advice, and their Judgment as Elders, but not admit them to Acts of Jurisdiction, and Eccesiastical Authority; because that that dependeth upon Relation to such a Seat or Corporation of several Churches, according to their Principles; but, to the Seat of a particular Congregational Church, according to ours.