Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 1, Demonstration 4
Demonstration IV.
From the Excellent Nature of the Conſtitution, in that it exceeds all that have been yet Extant in the Chriſtian World. This I ſhall endeavour to Illuſtrate by three Pleas.
Plea. I.
In that it beſt ſuits the Great and Noble Deſigns of the Goſpel, and that in a peculiar manner as it tends to the promoting Holineſs in the World; not only from the ſtrict Nature of the Conſtitution in the Admiſſion of Members, whence the Churches become a more exact Emblem of Heaven, both for the illuminating and dreading of others, that beholding their Goodneſs, may Glorify God in the day of Viſitation. 1 Pet. 2.12. But from the great advantage put into the hands of the beſt ſort of men, [ſolid, pious, wiſe and unbyas'd men] of furniſhing a Country with Perſons eminently Qualified for the Miniſtry, and keeping them ſo. There is no lurking place for Symony in this Conſtitution. There is no buying and ſelling of Offices, whereby the World has been miſerably cheated, and debauched Here is no back Stairs for Couſins and Favourites to Climb up to high Seats without Deſert; it is merit and intrinſick Worth ſet the value, and holds the ſtrongeſt plea for Preferment here. Hence every Village, and corner of a Town, where Religious Congregations are Settled, are furniſhed with Perſons for the Goſpel Miniſtry of ſuch Learning, and bright Saints, and of ſuch real and diſtinguiſhing Vertue and Zeal, that they muſt needs be very prevalent in carrying on the main deſign, &c. But this Plea is fully purſued by Dr. Owen, in his Enquiry, &c. [p. 120 and ſo on] whither I refer the Reader that wants more ſatisfaction.
Plea II.
For that it has the beſt ballance belonging to it of any Church-Government in the World. Other Governments have generally too high a Top, and are very lopſided too: Nay the beſt we can meet with without vanity or Envy it may be ſaid, that not only ſeemingly like Grantham Steple, but really it ſtands awry, and being ſo over loaded on Natures corrupt ſide, with Learning, Power and high Truſt it plainly hangs over ſeveral Degrees from a true perpendicular, towards Babylon: And if it falls it burys you; and then you muſt remember it has Monopolized all Power, ſo that you have none left to ſtir under your load, or creep out with. But here's a Government ſo exactly poyzed, that it keeps its Motions Regular like the ſtupendous Spheres, unleſs ſome Phaeton chance to mount the Chariot Box, and becomes the driver. I have ſufficiently, I think, evinced the Power in the Brotherhood; and though every Church is a Body conſiſting of very numerous Parts and a noble Miniſtry, yet the ballance of Power is very exactly and with great advantage preſerved; both between the Members of the Body in general, and between themſelves, and their Publick Miniſtry in ſpecial.
1. Between the Members of the Body. For beſides, the Wiſdom, Love and other enobling Principles, in ſome meaſure actuating every member. The Venerable Major Vote, which Guides and Governs the Auguſt States of Parliaments; nay all Aſſembly's, Superiour and Inferiour, that have any Equality of Power diſperſed amongſt the Members, Ordinarily keeps the whole Body, in all points of Adminiſtration, in an exact Equipoize.
2. And as for the ſtate of the Miniſtry; there is no grain of allowance wanted on their ſide, to make their Office Power, if not an even ballance Arithmetically upon an accurate, and diſtreſſing Tryal: Yet in the ſeries of a laudable Miniſtration, it is an Equivalent of Power; at leaſt according to the terms of our Conſtitution, Platf. C. 10 Sect. 11. But let the caſe be ſtated as accurately as may be; and let every fair Principle which grants the Power to be Originally in the People, be yielded: and alſo Eſtabliſh a proper Judicature in the Brotherhood; yet its apparent in all Examples, that the Miniſtry of this Conſtitution are held, if not in proper ſpeaking; yet in Conſcience, and Religious Courteſie, as though all Power were inveſted in them; or at leaſt to ſuch a Degree that there is no appearance of what may render the Government grievous to them, if they are but contented, to be the Maſters of an Aſſembly of Free Men, and not of Slaves. Amongſt abundance of Illuſtrations I will mention two.
1. The great Veneration in Mans mind towards thoſe who are ſenſibly cloathed with Authority. If I am a Father where is my Honour, if a Maſter where is my Fear, Mat. 1.6. The Prophet Reaſons from the Law of Nature; there being ſuch a property planted in the Soul by its Maker to revere Superiours, and eſpecially Men in publick truſt. And alſo the Authority ſhining in them, being ſuch bright Rays both of the Divine Majeſty and Benignity, there being ſuch a ſenſible Good and Benefit accruing thereby, to the reſt of Mankind, hence ſprings a univerſal diſpoſition to Obedience and Submiſſion, this is obvious through the whole Civil Miniſtry of the World; there is no need to make every Judge in Commiſſion, or chief Magiſtrate a Sovereign Prince to gain Homage to him. No! but as ſoon as a Man appears veſted with Authority, there is that in the Soul of another which teaches Reverence and Obedience to him in his Truſt, both from the Suggeſtions of fear and ſence of Intereſt. So that a Learned, Painful and Pious Miniſtry Intruſted with the Souls & happineſs of Men; and taking Indefatigable care to ſecure Eternal Life for them, has a moſt charming and endearing Aſpect and Influence upon all the Rational Powers. In ſo much that Nature it ſelf has a high value for ſuch Subjects of Truſt. And as for Grace its ready to be laviſh of its Victims. — ye — received me as an Angel of God even as Chriſt Jeſus. — If it had been poſſible ye would have plucked out your own Eyes, and have given them to me, Gal. 4.14, 15. If any Man doubts of the validity this Plea, let him but view what Conqueſts have been made by the abuſe of theſe Principles, and you will find the Miniſtry of the Chriſtian World have far exceeded Caeſar, in ſubduing Mankind; for from an honeſt Obedience they have brought them to lie down, & be trampled on by their Spiritual owners. That there is no danger on the Peoples ſide when things are well ſtated, if there be but a wiſe and due management on the other. And ſtill it is more evident.
2. From the Extent of Commiſſion, with the many enobling Prerogatives fixed in their Truſt. Though they are the Miniſtry, and but the Miniſtry of a Democracy, their Commiſſion is ſo Large, and High-Prerogatives ſo numerous, they carry ſo great an appearance, as though in reality they were the Subjects of all Power. And I think it is ſo from the Nature and Modes of all Regular Government; for when a Government has Enacted their Laws and Precepts, and ſetled their Miniſtry, they leave the ſway of things to them; that it is as though they had Reſigned all the Power to their Miniſtry: So it is peculiarly in the affairs of Goſpel Churches. That let men at their leiſure view this Illuſtration by the Scripture, our Platform, and by the Laws and Cuſtoms of Nations, and they will find it a Truth. That certainly a painful Miniſtry may eaſily be reconciled to our Conſtitution, unleſs they are raiſed to that Temper of mind as he was, who had this for his Motto, Aut Caeſar aut Nihil, A Caeſar or nothing.
Plea III.
From the near Affinity our Conſtitution holds with the Civil Governments of ſome of the moſt flouriſhing Common-wealths in the World. It's certain, every Species of Government ſimple and mixt, have their various Excellencies and Defects; much may be ſaid in honour of each, and alſo every Conſtitution may have ſomething wanting; at leaſt it may ſeem ſo, under a more critical ſurvey of its Nature, Principles, Ill-conveniencies, corrupt Miniſtry, Misfortunes, &c. And many times a Government falls under Scandal from Diſtemper of Mind, from falſe Ends and corrupt Intereſts, which ſway and over-rule mens tho'ts relating to Government, more than from the Conſtitution it ſelf. But however, to Evade all circular Diſcourſes, we may very fairly Infer, where we find Nations flouriſhing, and their Liberty and Property, with the reſt of the great Immunities of Man's Nature nouriſhed, ſecured, and beſt guarded from Tyranny, we may venture to pronounce this People to be the Subjects of a noble Government, and there be many ſuch on Earth, whoſe Conſtitution will ſerve to juſtifie ours. I ſhall inſtance in three, and no more.
1. The Venetian Common-wealth; tho' ſome are pleaſed to call the Government of this free State, an Ariſtocracy; but it ſeems more properly a limited Democracy; for that the Seat of Sovereign Power is their ancient Commons, called their Families, Enrolled in the Golden Book; theſe make up the grand Council of the Nation, ſettle the Publick Miniſtry, and Enact Laws, &c. This People have by this mode of Government raiſed themſelves into ſo auguſt and flouriſhing a Capacity, that from a very obſcure Original, they are grown to that degree, as to bridle and curb the pride and haughtineſs of Turk and Pope This Example muſt needs be no ſmall Honour to our Conſtitution. But,
2. The Belgick Provinces are without Interruption allowed to be the Subjects of a formed Democracy, They in ſome Ages paſt being inſulted, and unmercifully trampled upon by that auguſt Tyrant, the Spaniſh Monarch; they being his Subjects broke looſe from him, and ſet up for themſelves. They aſſumed to themſelves their Original Power, and when they had got it into their hands, had the wit, and kept it, & have improved it in the form of a Democracy to this day, and God has bleſt them: That from the poor States of Holland, they are now grown to wear the ſplendid Title of Their High Mightineſſes, and are a Match for moſt Monarchs on Earth. Says Gordon of their Government: The ſeven Provinces of Holland being under a Democratical Government, are as it were ſeveral Common wealths; each Province being a diſtinct State; yea, and every City having an Independent Power within it ſelf to Judge of all Cauſes, whether Civil or Criminal, and to inflict even Capital Puniſhments; but all joyning together, make one Republick, the moſt conſiderable in the World.
Query. Whether ſuch Examples of Popular Governments now Extant on Earth, and yielding ſuch vaſt advantages to the Subjects, and being ſo regular and practicable; I ſay, whether they may not juſtly deter all men from reproaching our Conſtitution with the ſcandalous Title of Anarchy, unleſs they will allow us to prepare a Chronicle for them, and therein publiſh to the World their profound Ignorance of the ſeveral Species of Governments; & the diſtinct way of Placing and Exerciſing various Powers in them.
3. The Engliſh. This Nation is reputed to be the Subjects of the fineſt and moſt incomparable Government in the World. And this Original happy Form of Government, is [ſays one] Truly and properly called an Engliſh Mans Liberty: A priviledge to be freed in Perſon and Eſtate from Arbitrary Violence and Oppreſſion▪ and a greater Inheritance than we derive from our Parents. And this Birth right of Engliſh Men ſhines moſt conſpicuouſly in two things.
1. In Parliaments; wherein the Subject has by his Repreſentatives, a ſhare in Legiſlative Power: And ſo makes his own Laws, and diſpoſes of his own Money.
2. In Jury's; whereby he has a ſhare in the Executive part of Law, ſo that no Cauſes are Tryed, nor any man Adjudged to loſe his Life, Member or Eſtate, but upon the Verdict of his Peers; his Equal or Neighbours, and of his own Condition. Theſe two grand Pillars of Engliſh Liberty, are the fundamental vital Priviledges whereby we have been, and are ſtill preſerved more free and happy, than any other People in the World; and we truſt ſhall ever continue ſo. For whoſoever ſhall deſign to impair, pervert, or undermine either of theſe, do ſtrike at the very Conſtitution of our Government, and ought to be proſecuted and puniſhed, with the utmoſt zeal and vigour. For to poyſon all the Springs and Rivers in the Kingdom, could not be a greater miſchief; for this would only affect the preſent Age, but the other would Ruine and Inſlave all our Poſterity. I ſhall improve this Example by three Quaeries.
Quaery 1. Ah! What's the matter with Engliſh Men, Men of ſuch Courage to be ſurprized with ſuch fear, as tho' they were like to be taken Captive, and turned into Slaves in their own Home? Why, in good truth, there may be a Reaſon for it; therefore it becomes them to be very careful under this head; for if they make themſelves Slaves in their own Country, or let others do it for them, when they can prevent it, they both deny God who Made and Redeemed them, and plainly Violate the Law of Nature?
Quaery 2. Who is it Engliſh Men are thus afraid of? Who do they thus Reflect upon in their frights and fears? It is neither France nor the Great Turk which dreads them! therefore it muſt needs be ſome body or another nearer home that threatens their Liberty. And may not New-England's Goſpel Liberties deſerve ſo much fear and caution, although it ſhould ſo happen that ſome body ſhould be Reflected upon by their Cautiouſneſs.
Quaery 3. If the ſettling ſuch Immunities, as the priviledge of Parliaments and Juries in the hands of the People be ſuch effectual Barriers to preſerve a Nation from Tyranny and Slavery; then whether when Goſpel Churches have the Means in their own Power, it been't their wiſdom to keep up the like Barrier, or ſomething equivalent thereto; that they may preſerve themſelves ſafe from the Arbitrary Meaſures of their own Miniſtry? or thus, Whether for Engliſh Men, when their Liberties in Church or State are faſt lockt up for them and their Poſterity by Law and regular Settlements, it been't their beſt way to beware how they Repeal thoſe Laws, or weaken thoſe Settlements?
But at preſent I ſhall leave it to other men to run the Parallel between our Conſtitution, and the ſeveral Governments I have mentioned, and infer what more they ſhall think proper; only leaving to my ſelf the liberty to conclude, that the ſeveral Examples of Civil States, which I have named, do ſerve abundantly to juſtifie the noble Nature of our Conſtitution in Church-Order; for that the ſeveral famous & auguſt Nations which I have mentioned, in all their Glory at Home, & Succeſs in Arms & Trade Abroad; their ſeveral Governments which have brought them to all this, are either a perfect Democracy, or very much mixed and blendiſhed with it.
Then why ſhould we in New-England be any more aſhamed, or leſs careful of our Church-Government, which keeps us from Tyranny and Slavery in the concerns of our Conſciences, then thoſe Nations are of their Civil Government, whereby they are preſerved from the like damnable Circumſtances in the Concerns of their outward Life, and Natural Rights and Fortunes?