Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Demonstration 4 – Plea 2
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 endeavor 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 unbias'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 favorites to climb up to high ſeats without deſert; it is merit and in…rinſic worth ſets 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 virtue 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 ſteeple, but really it ſtands awry, and being ſo overloaded on nature's 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 buries 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 poiſed, that it keeps its motions regular like the ſtupenduous 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 m…niſtry, yet the balance of power is very exactly and with great advantage preſerved; both between the members of the body in general, and between themſelves, and their public 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 ſuperior and inferior, that have any equality of power diſperſed amongſt the members, ordinarily keeps the whole body, in all points of adminiſtration, in an exact equipoiſe.
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 trial: 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 ſ…ated 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 it's 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 many render the government grevious 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 man's mind towards thoſe who are ſenſibly cloathed with authority. If I am a father where it my honor, 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 ſuperiors, and eſpecially men in public 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 ſenſe of intereſt. So that a learned, painful and pious miniſtry intruſted with the ſouls and 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 itſelf 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 of 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 lye down, & be trampled on by their ſpiritual owners. That there is no danger on the poople's 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 ſettled their miniſtry, they leave the ſway of things to them; that it is as tho' 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.