Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Chapter 15 – Chapter 16
CHAP. XV. Of the communion of churches one with another.
ALTHOUGH churches be diſtinct and therefore may not be confounded one with another, and equal, and therefore have not dominion one over another; yet all the churches ought to preſerve church communion one with another, becauſe they are all united unto Chriſt, not only as a myſtical but as a political head, whence is derived a communion ſuitable thereunto. Rev. 1.4. Cant. 8.8. Rom. 16.16. 1 Cor. 16.19. Acts 15.23. Rev. 2.1.
2. The communion of churches is excerciſed ſundry ways. 1. By way of mutual care, in taking thought for one anothers welfare. 2. By way of conſultation one with another, when we have occaſion to require the judgment and counſel of other churches, touching any perſon or cauſe wherewith they may be better acquainted than ourſelves. As the church at Antioch conſulted with the apoſtles and elders of the church at Jeruſalem, about the queſtion of circumciſion of the Gentiles, and about the falſe teachers that broached that doctrine. In which caſe, when any church wanted light or peace amongſt themſelves, it is a way of communion of churches (according to the word) ta meet together, by their elders and other meſſengers in a ſynod, to conſider and argue the points in doubt or difference; and having found out the way of truth and peace, to commend the ſame by their let… and meſſengers to the churches whom the ſame may concern. But if a church be rent with diviſions among themſelves, or lie under any open ſcandal, and yet refuſe to conſult with other churches for healing or removing of the ſame, it is matter of juſt offence both to the Lord Jeſus, and to other churches, as bewraying too much want of mercy and faithfulneſs, not to ſeek to bind up the breaches and wounds of the church and brethren; and therefore the ſtate of ſuch a church calleth aloud upon o…her churches to exerciſe a fuller act of brotherly communion, to wit, by way of admonition. 3. A third way of communion of churches is by way of admonition, to wit, in caſe any public offence be found in a church, which either diſcern not or are ſlow in proceeding to uſe means for the removing and healing thereof. Paul had no authority over Peter, yet when he ſaw Peter not walking with a right foot, he publickly rebuked him before the church. Though churches have no more authority one over another, than one apoſtle had over another, yet as one apoſtle might admoniſh another, ſo may one church admoniſh another, and yet without uſurpation. In which caſe, if the church that lieth under offence, do not hearken to the church that doth admoniſh her, the church is to acquaint other neighbour churches with that offence which the offending church ſtill lieth under, together with the neglect of their brotherly admonition given unto them; whereupon thoſe other churches are to join in ſeconding the admonition formerly given; and if ſtill the offending church continue in obſtinacy and impenitency, they may forbear communion with them, and are to proceed to make uſe of the help of a ſynod, or council of neighbour churches walking orderly (if a greater cannot conveniently be had) for their conviction. If they hear not the ſynod, the ſynod having declared them too obſtinate, particular churches approving and accepting the judgment of the ſynod, are to declare the ſentence of non-communion reſpectively concerning them; and thereupon, out of a religious care to keep their own communion pure, they may juſtly withdraw themſelves from participation with them at the Lord's table, and from ſuch other acts of holy communion as the communion of churches doth otherwiſe allow and require. Nevertheleſs, if any members of ſuch a church as live under public offence, do not conſent to the offence of the church, but do in due ſort bear witneſs againſt it, they are ſtill to be received to wonted communion; for it is not equal that the innocent ſhould ſuffer with the offenſive. Yea, furthermore, if ſuch innocent members, after due waiting in the uſe of all good means for the healing of the offence of their own church, ſhall at l…t (with the allowance of the council of neighbour churches) withdraw from the fellowſhip of their own church, and offer themſelves to the fellowſhip of another, we judge it lawful for the other church to receive them (being otherwiſe fit) as if they had been orderly diſmiſſed to them from their own church. 4. A fourth w…y of communion of churches is by way of participation. The members of one church occaſionally coming to another, we willingly admit them to partake with us at the Lord's table, it being the ſeal of our communion, not only with Chriſt, nor only with the members of our own churches, but alſo of all the churches of the ſaints; in which regard we refuſe not to baptize their children preſented to us, if either their own miniſter, be abſent, or ſuch a fruit of holy fellowſhip be deſired with us. In like caſe, ſuch churches as are furniſhed with more miniſters than one, do willingly afford one of their own miniſters to ſupply the place of an abſent or ſick miniſter of another church for a needful ſeaſon. 5. A fifth way of church communion, is by way of recommendation, when the member of one church hath occaſion to reſide in another church, if but for a ſeaſon, we commend him to their watchful fellowſhip, by letters of recommendation, but if he be called to ſettle his abode there, we commit him according to his deſire, to the fellowſhip of their covenant, by letters of diſmiſſion. 6. A ſixth way of church communion is in caſe of need, to miniſter relief and ſuccour one unto another, either of able members, to furniſh them with officers, or of outward ſupport, to the neceſſities of poorer churches, as did the churches of the Gentiles contribute liberally to the poor ſaints at Jeruſalem. Cant. 8.8. Acts 15.2, 6, 22, 23. Ezek. 34.4. Gal. 2.11 to 14. Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. by proportion. Gen. 18.25. 1 Cor. 12.13. Rom. 16.1. Acts 18.27. and 11.22, 29. Rom. 13.26, 27.
3. When a company of believers purpoſe to gather into a church fellowſhip, it is requiſite for their ſafer proceeding, and the maintaining the communion of churches, that they ſignify their intent unto the neighbour churches, walking according unto the order of the goſpel, and deſire their preſence, and help, and right hand of fellowſhip, which they ought readily to give unto them, when there is no juſt cauſe to except againſt their proceedings. Gal. 2.1, 2. and 9. by proportion.
4. Beſides theſe ſeveral ways of communion, there is alſo a way of propagation of churches: when a church ſhall grow too numerous, it is a way, and fit ſeaſon to propagate one church out of another, by ſending forth ſuch of their members as are willing to remove, and to procure ſome officers to them, as may enter with them into church eſtate amongſt themſelves. As bees, when the hive is too full, iſſue forth by ſwarms, and are gathered into other hives, ſo the churches of Chriſt may do the ſame upon like neceſſity; and therein hold forth to them the right hand of fellowſhip, both in their gathering into a church, and in the ordination of their officers, Iſa. 40.20. Cant. 8.8.9.
CHAP. XVI. Of Synods.
SYNODS orderly aſſembled, and rightly proceeding according to the pattern, Acts 15, we acknowledge as the ordinance of Chriſt; and tho' not abſolutely neceſſary to the being, yet many times, through the iniquity of men, and preverſeneſs of times, neceſſary to the well-being of churches, for the eſtabliſhment of truth and peace therein, Acts 15.2 to 15.
2. Synods being ſpiritual and eccleſiaſtical aſſemblies, are therefore made up of ſpiritual and eccleſiaſtical cauſes. The next efficient cauſe of them under Chriſt, is the power of the churches, ſending forth their elders and other meſſengers, who being met together in the name of Chriſt, are the matter of a ſynod: and they in arguing, debating, and determining matters of religion according to the word, and publiſhing the ſame to the churches it concerneth, do put forth the proper and formal acts of a ſynod, to the conviction of errors and hereſies, and the eſtabliſhment of truth and peace in the churches, which is the end of a ſynod, Acts 15.2, 3, 6, 7, to 23, 31. and 16.4, 15.
3. Magiſtrates have power to call a ſynod, by calling to the churches to ſend forth their elders, and other meſſengers, to counſel, and aſſiſt them in matters of religion; but yet the conſtituting of a ſynod is a church act, and may be tranſacted by the churches even when civil magiſtrates may be enemies to the churches, and church-aſſemblies, 2 Chron. 19.4, 5, to 11. Acts. 15.
4. It belongeth unto ſynods and councils, to debate and determine controverſies of faith, and caſes of conſcience; to clear from the word holy directions for the holy worſhip of God, and good government of the church; to bear witneſs againſt male adminiſtration and corruption in doctrine or manners in any particular church; and to give directions for the reformation thereof; not to exerciſe church cenſures in way of diſcipline, nor any other act of church authority or juriſdiction, which that preſidential ſynod did forbear, Acts. 15.1, 2, 6, 7. 1 Chron. 15, 13. 2 Chron. 29.6, 7. Acts 15.24, 28, 29.
5. The ſynods directions and determinations ſo far as conſonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and ſubmiſſion; not only fort heir agreement therewith (which is the principal ground thereof, and without which they bind not at all) but alſo ſecondarily for the power where by they are made, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in his word, Acts 15.
6. Becauſe it is difficult, if not impoſſible, for many churches to come together in one place, in all their members univerſally; therefore they may aſſemble by their delegates or meſſengers; as the church at Antioch went not all to Jeruſalem, but ſome ſelect men for that purpoſe. Becauſe none are or ſhould be more fit to know the ſtate of the churches nor to adviſe of ways for the good thereof, than elders; therefore it is fit that in the choice of the meſſengers for ſuch aſſemblies they have ſpecial reſpect unto ſuch; yet inaſmuch as not only Paul and Barnabas, but certain others alſo were ſent to Jeruſalem from Antioch, and when they were come to Jeruſalem, not only the apoſtles and elders, but other brethren alſo do aſſemble and meet about the matter; therefore ſynods are to conſiſt both of elders, and other church members endued with gifts, and ſent by the churches, not excluding the preſence of any brethren in the churches, Acts 15.2, 22, 23.