Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the matter of the viſible church, both is reſpect of quality and quantity.
THE matter of a viſible church are ſaints by calling. 1 Cor. 1.2. Eph. 1.1.
2. By ſaints, we underſtand, 1. Such as have not only attained the knowledge of the principles of religion, and are free from groſs and open ſcandals, but alſo do together with the profeſſion of their faith and repentance, walk in blameleſs obedience to the word, ſo as that in charitable diſcretion they may be accounted ſaints by calling, (though perhaps ſome or more of them be unſound and hypocrites inwardly) becauſe the members of ſuch particular churches are commonly by the Holy Ghoſt called ſaints & faithful brethren in Chriſt; and ſundry churches have been reproved for receiving and ſuffering ſuch perſons to continue in fellowſhip amongſt them, as have been offenſive and ſcandalous; the name of God alſo by this means is blaſphemed, and the holy things of God defiled and profaned, the hearts of the godly grieved, and the wicked themſelves hardened, and holpen forward to damnation. The example of ſuch doth endanger the ſanctity of others: A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 2. The children of ſuch, who are alſo holy. Heb. 6.1. 1 Cor. 1.5. Rom. 6.17. 1 Cor. 1.2. Phil. 1.2. Col. 1.2. Eph. 1.1. 1 Cor. 5.12, 13. Rev. 2.14.15, 20. Ezek. 44.7, 9, and 23.38, 39. Num. 19.20. Hag. 2.13, 14. 1 Cor. 11.27.29. Pſal. 37.21. 1 Cor. 5.6. 2 Cor. 7.14.
3. The members of churches, though orderly conſtituted, may in time degenerate, and grow corrupt and ſcandalous, which though they ought not to be tolerated in the church, yet their continuance therein, through the defect of the execution of diſcipline and juſt cenſures, doth not immediately diſſolve the being of a church, as appears in the church of Iſrael, and the churches of Galatia and Corinth, Pergamus and Thyatira. Jer. 2.21. 1 Cor. 5.12. Jer. 2.4. Gal. 5.4. 2 Cor. 12.21. Rev. 2.14, 15. and 21.21.
4. The matter of the church in reſpect of its quantity, ought not to be of greater number than may ordinarily meet together conveniently in one place; nor ordinarily fewer, than may conveniently carry on church-work. Hence when the holy ſcripture makes mention of the ſaints combined into a church eſtate, in a town or city where was but one congregation, it uſually calleth thoſe ſaints (the church) in the ſingular number; as, the church of the Theſſalonians; the church of Smyrna, Philadelphia, and the like: But when it ſpeaketh of the ſaints in a nation or province, wherein there were ſundry congregations, it frequently and uſually calleth them by the name of churches, in the plural number, as the churches of Aſia, Galatia, Macedonia, and the like; which is further confirmed by what is written of ſundry of thoſe churches in particular, how they were aſſembled and met together, the whole church in one place, as the church at Jeruſalem, the church at Antioch, the church at Corinth, and Cenchrea, though it were more near to Corinth, it being the port thereof, and anſwerable to a village, yet being a diſtinct congregation from Corinth, it had a church of its own, as well as Corinth had. 1 Cor. 14.21. Mat. 18.17. Rom. 16.1. 1 Theſſ. 1.1. Rev. 2.8. and 3.7. 1 Cor. 16.1, 19. Gal. 1.2. 2 Cor. 8.1. 1 Theſſ. 2.14. Acts 2.46. and 5.12. and 6.2. and 14.27. and 15.38 1 Cor. 5.4. and 14.23. Rom. 16.1.
5. Nor can it with reaſon be thought but that every church appointed and ordained by Chriſt, had a miniſtry ordained and appointed for the ſame; and yet plain it is, that there were no ordinary officers appointed by Chriſt for any other than congregational churches; elders being appointed to feed, not all flocks, but the particular flock of God, over which the Holy Ghoſt had made them overſeers, and that flock they muſt attend, even the whole flock; and one congregation being as much as any ordinary elder can attend, therefore there is no greater church than a congregation, which may ordinarily meet in one place. Acts 20.28.