for the helping the Church against Errors Schismes and Scandals 3dly That these Synods may by the Power they have from Christ admonish men or Churches in his Name when they see evils Continuing in or growing upon the Church and their Admonitions carry with them the Authority of Jesus Christ 4ly As there shall be cause they may declare men or Churches to be Subverters of the Faith or otherwise according to the nature of the offence to shame them before all the Churches about them 5ly They may by a Solemn act in the Name of Jesus Christ refuse any further Communion with them till they repent 6ly They may declare also in the Name of Christ that these erring people or Churches are not to be received into Fellowship with any of the Churches of Christ nor to have Communion with one another in the Ordinances of Christ You will say what if they care not for all this Answ That is as if you should say what if they be not Conscientious what if nothing can prevail with Conscience if you say private Brethren may admonish and declare in the Name of Christ This is more then if any private Brethren should do the same thing For a Synod is a Solemn Ordinance of Christ and the Elders are to be looked upon as the Officers of Jesus Christ And again pag. 47. he ha's these words If it shall be said But surely they do not agree so farr they do not come up to these six things mentioned To that I Answer I do not in these deliver only mine own Judgement but by what I know of the Judgements of all those Brethren with whom I have occasion to Converse by Conference both before and since I stand Charged to make it good to be their Judgements also yea it hath been theirs and mine for divers years even then when we never thought to have enjoyed our own Land again And if it be so then let the Lord be Judge between us and our Brethren for those loud and grievous out-Cries there ha's been against us in this thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 POSTSCRIPT SInce the Composure of this Collection of Testimonies it hath pleased the Lord to take unto himself another of our Antient Studs viz. worthy and Reverend Mr. Allin of Dedham whose Apprehensions touching the Controverted Questions is sufficiently known Likewise not many weeks before his death he read this Script and expressed his judgement thereon in words following Reverend and dear Brother I salute you in the Lord. I humbly bless God for your fruitful Labours in this your Collection and in other matters performed by you concerning which in general I think it is worthy serious Consultation amongst your Friends whether it be not a Season to publish the same 1. We see the work of Christ touching the Church Seed is laid asleep this might awaken our drowsiness we see also the great disorders in Churches for want of seasonable help from Neighbouring Churches and by Reason of the rejection of Counsel without convincing their Sentence of error 2 dly We see how our present doctrine is rejected as a Novel Innovation differing from first and primitive Principles 3. Who knoweth how farr God may bless this Treatise to the recovery of some if not many from their Erroneous Opinions about these Truths I Conceive also some serious Exhortation to cleave to these first wayes of Christ in New England might be seasonably added I Rest Yours in our Lord Iohn Allin A Letter concerning the Subject of Baptisme written by that eminent Minister of Christ Mr Ionathan Mitchel late Pastor of the Church in Cambridg in New England Reverend and dear Sir I have deliberately read over Mr. Dâ— Essay and Epistle to the Reader which I now return to you with thanks for the Loan of it If I should say I see not matter of Conviction in it his Answer is already given me pag. 35 If men shut their eyes when the light is held out to them they may truly say they see not or in pag. 6. they that Enquire of God with an Idol in their hearts shall be paenally answered by being left to their own Counsels c. we had need Labour to approve our selves to God when we meet with such sharp Censures from men But the R. A. can hardly expect we should find Conviction here seeing he builds all upon this distinction of Immediate and mediate membership which with the Consectaries He deduceth from it is the prora puppis of his whole discourse and for the proof of the distinction himself in pag. 34 35. refers the Reader to his former Essays neither have I observed much more in this writing toward the proof of it then we have had before And therefore if we did not see it as by him explained and Improved to be evident before it is not strange if we do not see it now If it must be imputed to our blindness yea wilful and paenal blindness that we see it not we must be Content to bear it as we may Also when he affirms over and over pag. 75 83 92 103 131 145 152. that we our selves Confess the Parents in Question have not Faith or are not visible Believers the Contrary whereunto we have plainly asserted And how many times over does he say it we call them meer members which we have disclaimed and do not so call them but members not in full Communion yea he sayes in pag. 49. we grant that the persons in Question are not to be accounted Church members c. How should we receive Conviction from such discourses If his meaning be by so often reflecting on our meer members as he calls them to deny that distinction of members into such as are in full Communion and such as are not in full Communion that would seem strange for how can that be denyed by any Padâ—baptists and he seems to approve it in pag. 35. yea he seems sometimes to grant that some when Adult do Continue in the Church and Covenant who yet are not admitted to full Communion pag. 76. 99 yet he calls for a Rule for two such sorts of Adult members pag. 73. But I shall not enter into discourse of particulars nor am I fit to be an Answerer it is casie to observe a greater sharpness in his Expressions to me then else where in this Book I hope I shall Consider as I am able what I find in this or other discourses about the matter in Controversy c. and if I be convinced of Error I shall not be ashamed to own it but if there be no way to Issue the Controversy but by such voluminous writings and if every passage be not spoken to he counts himself neglected or unanswered And that which he hath before said stands still firm and good as to that purpose he speaks in this Book above twenty times I have little hope to see an Issue of it nor can I see any likely way for an Issue unless we can meet
to the other Question about Communion and Consociation of Churches Now concerning that it is less needful to produce many Testimonies that there in the Synod Introduceth not any Innovation For some that dissented from the Answer to the first Question about Baptisme yet in this last concurred yea there was an unanimous and universal Assent to the Answer given to this second Question as the Author of the Antisynodalia Americanâ— does acknowledge where pag. 12. it is said in the second Question we do fully agree with the rest af the Synod in all the Propositions laid down about it together with the Proofs thereof we shall therefore amongst our New English Worthies only mention the Judgement of Mr. Cotton concerning this Question which what it is may be seen largly expressed in his Book of the Keyes pag. 54 c. And there are those that will remember that when that eminent Minister of Christ Mr. Mitchel was ordained Pastor of the Church in Cambridg Mr. Cotton giving in the Name of the Messengers of Churches the right hand of Fellowship seriously advised him to endeavour And that faithful man was ever mindful of that solemn Advice that that Ordinance of Consociation of Churches might be duly practised greatly bewailing the defect of these Churches as to that particular yea Mr. Cottons heart was much upon this thing in his latter time foreseeing that without it these Churches and the Congregational way could not stand He did therefore not long before his decease draw up some Propositions which are expressive of the way and manner of this Consociation pleaded for which because they are as being written by his hand they cannot but be of great weight and worth we shall therefore here insert and publish them Propositions Concerning Consociation and Communion of Churches tendred to the Elders and Brethren of the Church for their Consideration and acceptance according to God Proposition I. Every true Church of Christ viz. a particular Congregation furnished with a Presly ery and walking in the truth and peace of the Gospel hath received from the Lord Jesus full Power Ecclesiastical within it self both of Liberty to receive her own members to choose her own Officers and the like And also of Authority to Administer Sacraments Censure her own offenders and restore penitents Mat. 18 18 1 Cor 5. Acts 6.2 c. and 14 23. so as this Consociation and Communion of Churches ought not to hinder the exercise of this power but only by Counsel from the word to direct and strengthen their hands in the right Administration thereof upon all just occasions Proposition II. Althought the Apostles of Christ were Independent on each other and had equally the highest Power Ecclesiastical under Christ and were led with Infallible Assistance of the Spirit in the exercise thereof yet Paul with Barnabas and Titus went up to Jerusalem and that by Revelation not only to Confer and Consult with the Apostles about his doctrine left he had or should run in vain Gal 2.1 2. but also Consociated or made Agreement with them by mutual giving the right hand of Fellowship to dispose the Course of their Ministry and Provision for the poor that so they might procure the more free and effectual passage of the fruit of the Gospel and the work of their Ministry and therefore it may seem much rather not only lawful but also very profitable and needful for ordinary Elders and Churches though equal in Power wanting that Infallible Assistance of the Spirit to Comer and Consult and Consociate or agree together about all such weighty matters in which Counsel and Concurrences to avoid Suspition of prejudice and partiality and so to expedite the free passage of the Gospel in the hands of them all Proposition III. If when Peter gave offence at Antioch the Apostle Paul took Liberty to rebuke him before them all though he was his equal in place and power and that no doubt out of that duty of love and faithfulness which he owed unto him and to the truth Peter also submitting thereunto then it may well stand with the equality of Churches out of their duty of Love and Faithfulness to admonish each other in case of publick offence and submit to such admonition from the word in meckness of wisdom as to the will and Authority of Christ and to give such Satisfaction as the Rule doth require Proposition IV. Out of Question the Lord Iesus the boad King and Compassionate high Pâ—â—â—st and Saviour of his body the Church hath as great a Love and care of the purity Peace and Edisocation of whole Churches as of particular Saints as is evident by those Epistles sent to the Churches of Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia to heal the publick Errors diffentions and other Corruptions found in them and therefore câ—â—tainly he hath appointed and sanctified some sufficient meane to preserve their purity and peace to heal and help the evils and distempers of whole Churches as well as of particular Believers Now then since Apostles and other extraordinary Officers are ceased that had power in all Churches and only Love remaineth what other Ecclesiastical help is there left without infringing the power of particular Churches but the Exercise of brotherly Love mutual watchfulness Brotherly Care and Counsel which Elders and Churches ought therefore to practice towards each other in this way of Brotherly Communion and Assistance on all just occasions Proposition V. Upon these and other Scripture grounds and Examples and for the ends above said it is very meet and requisite according to our present practice that when any Company of Christians intend to unite themselves into the Fellowship of a Church or being in a Church state to elect and ordain any Elders over them that in due time they signify their intentions to the Neighbouring Churches walking in the order of the Gospel if such may be had desiring their presence Assistance and right hand of Fellowship that as a Church is a City set upon a Hill so the Acts thereof may not be as a Light put under a Bushel but may so shine forth to all other Churches beholding and approving their orderâ—y proceedings as they may the more readily give them the right hand of Fellowship and walk with more freedom of Spirit in Brotherly Love and Communion with them in the Lord. Proposition VI. In such matters of publick Censure wherein through the obscenity and difficulty thereof or otherwise there doth arise differences tending to dangerous Divisions and distractions in the Church or offence to other Churches In all such Caâ—es it is meet and requisite that the Church proceed advisâ—dâ—y with the Counsel and Concurrence of the Elder or Elders with other Judicious and impartial Brethâ—â—â— of other Churches clearing up from the Word what is the mind and will of Christ to be done Proposition VII Not only in matters of Censure but also in other Cases of Doctrine or practice wherein for want of Light or of the
that Assembly in his Catechisme concerning Church discipline pag. 224 226 227. thus expresses his Judgement Churches being gathered and setled according to the mind of Christ ought to preserve a mutual holy Communion amongst themselves and to exercise it in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutual good and Edification may be promoted In desiring or making use of the Counsel and advice of one another in such Cases of doubt and difficulty whether Doctrinal or practical as may arise in any of them Acts 15.2 6. And from hence it follows that in Case any Church either by error in Doctrine or praecipitation or mistake in other Administrations do give offence unto other Churches those other Churches may require an account from them admonish them of their faults and withhold Communion from them in Case they persist in the error of their way and that because in their difficulties and before their miscarriages they were bound to have desired the advice Counsel and Assistance of those other Churches which being neglected by them the other are to recover the end of it unto their utmost ability Gal 2.6 11. And hence also it follows that those that are rightly and justly Censured in any Church ought to be rejected by all Churches what ever both because of their mutual Communion and because it is and ought to be presumed until the contrary be made to appear that in Case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the proceedure of the Church they would have taken the advice of those Churches with whom they were obliged to Consult Thus far Doctor Owen Likewise Doctor Thomas Goodwin and Mr. Philip Nye in that worthy Epistle which they have prefixed before Mr. Cottons book of the Keyes in which Epistle the Congregational way is truly stated and asserted as it differs from both the extreams viz. from Presbyterianisme on the one and Brownisme on the other hand do declare their Concurrence with him in acknowledging that an Association or Communion of Churches sending their Elders and Messengers into a Synod is an Ordinance of Christ unto whom Christ hath in Relation to rectifying male Administrations and healing Dissentions in particular Congregations and the like Cases committed a due and just measure of power suited and proportioned to those Ends and furnished them not only with ability to give Counsel and Advice but further upon such like occasions with Ministerial power and Authority to determine declare and injoyne such things as may tend to the reducing Congregations to right order and Peace see pag. 4. 6 7 10. Moreover that the practice of Congregationals ha's been according to this Profession may be seen in the Apologetical Narration published by Doctor Goodwin Mr. Philip Nye Mr. Sydrach Simpson Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Bridg. In as much as those famous Apologists as Paul speaks concerning Iames Cephas and Iohn amongst the Apostles seem to be Pillars and worthily are they so accounted amongst Congregationals Since also that Apologetical Narration though printed is in the hands of but few with us we shall therefore here transcribe and insert some pages of it And therein they thus declare see pag. 15. to pag. 22. And whereas say they the Common prejudice and exception laid into all mens thoughts against us and our opinions is that in such Congregational Government thus entire within it self there is not allowed sufficient remedy for miscarriages though never so gross no relief for wrongful Sentences or persons injured thereby no room for Complaints no powerful or effectual means to reduce a Church or Churches that fall into Heresie Schisme c. but every one is left and may take Liberty without controul to do what is good in their own eyes we have through the good Providence of God upon us from the avowed declarations of our Judgements among our Churches mutually during our Exile and that also confirmed by the most solemn Instance of our practice wherewith to vindicate our selves and way in this particular which upon no other occasion we should ever have made thus publick God so ordered it that a Scandal and offence fell out between those very Churches whilst living in this Banishment whereof we our selves that write these things were then the Ministers one of our Churches having unhappily deposed one of their Ministers the others judged it not only too suddain an act having proceeded in a matter of so great moment without consuiting their Sâ—ster Churches as was publickly professed we should have done in such Cases of concernment but also in the proceedings thereof as too severe and not managed according to the Rules laid down in the Word In this Case our Churches did mutually acknowledge and submit to this as a Sacred and undoubted Principle and Supream Law to be observed amongst all Churches that as by virtue of the Apostolical Command Churches as well as particular men are bound to give no offence neither to Iew nor Gentile nor the Churches of God they live amongst So that in all Cases such offence or differences by the Obligation of the Common Law of Communion of Churches and for the Vindication of the glory of Christ which in Common they hold forth the Church or Churches challenged to offend or differ are to submit themselves upon the Challenge of the offence or Complaint of the person wronged to the most full and open tryal and examination by other Neighbour Churches offended thereat of what ever ha's given the offence And further that by virtue of the same and like Law of not partaking of other mens sin the Church offended may and ought upon the Impenitency of those Churches persisting in their Errors and miscarriage to pronounce that heavy Sentence against them of withdrawing and Renouncing all Christian Communion with them until they do repent and further to declare and protest this with the Causes thereof to all other Churches of Christ that they may do the like And what further Authority or proceedings purely Ecclesiastical of one or many Churches towards another whole Church or Churches offending either the Scriptures do hold forth or can rationally be put in Execution without the Magistrates interposing a power or another nature unto which we upon his particular Cognizance and Examination of such Causes profess ever to submit and also to be most willing to have recourse unto for our parts we saw not then nor do yet see And likewise we did then Suppose and do yet that this Principle of Submission of Churches that miscarry unto other Churches offended together with this other that it is a Command from Christ enjoyned to Churches that are finally offended to denounce such a Sentence of non Communion and withdrawing from them whilst Impenitent as unworthy to hold forth the Name of Christ these Principles being received and generally acknowledged by the Churches of Christ to be a mutual duty as strictly enjoyned them by Christ as any other that these would be as effectual means through the blessing of Christ to awe
and preserve Churches and their Elders in their duties As that other of Claim to an Authoritative Power Ecclesiastical to Excommunicate other Churches or their Elders offending for if the one be compared with the other in a mier Ecclesiastical Notion that of Excommunication pretended hath but this more in it that it is a Delivery of whole Churches and their Elders offending unto Satan for which we know no warrant in the Scriptures that Churches should have such a power over other Churches And then as for the binding Obligation both of the one way and the other it can be supposed to lye but in these two things 1. In a warrant and Injunction given by Christ to his Churches to put either the one or the other into Execution And 2. That mens Consciences be accordingly taken therewith so as to Subject themselves whether unto the one way or the other For suppose that other Principle of Authoritative Power in the greater part of the Churches combined to Excommunicate other Churches c. To be the Ordinance of God yet unless it do take hold of mens Consciences and be received amongst all Churches the offending Churches will slight all such Excommunications as much as they may be supposed to do our way of protestation and Sentence of non Communion On the other side Let this way of ours be but as strongly entertained as that which is the way and Command of Christ and upon all occasions be heedfully put in Execution it will awe mens Consciences as much and produce the same Effects And if the Magistrates Power to whicâ— we give as much and as we think more then the Principles of the Presbyterial Government will suffer them to yield do buâ— assiâ—t and back the Sentence of other Churches denouncing this Non Commâ—nion against Churches miscarrying according to the nature of the Crime as they judge meet and as they would the Sentence of Chu ches Eâ—â—omâ—â—nicating other Churches in such Cases upon their own particular Judgemenâ— of the Cause then without all Controveâ—sy this our way of Church proceeding will be every way as effectual as their other can be supposed to be and we are sure more brotherly and more suited to that Liberty and equality Christ hath endowed his Church with But without the Magistrates interposing their Authority their way of proceeding will be as ineffectual as ours and more liable to Contempt by how much it is pretendâ—d to be more Authorita ive and to inflict more dreadful punishment which carnal Spirits are seldom sensible of This for our Judgements And for a eâ—l evidence and demonstration both that this was then our Judgements as likewise for an instance of the effectual Success of such a Course held by Churches in such Cases our own practice and the blessing of God thereon may plead and testify for us to all the world The manage of this Transaction in brief was this That Church which with others was most Scandalized did by Letters declare their offence requiring of the Church suposed to be offending in the Name and for the vindication of the honour of Christ and the relieving the party wronged to yield a full and publick hearing before all the Churches of our Nation or any other whomsoever offended of what they could give in Charge against their proceedings in that deposition of their Minister and to submit themselves to an open Tryal and review of all those forepassed Carriages that concerned that particular which they most chearfully and readily according to the forementioned Principles submitted unto in a place and state where no outward violence or any other external Authority either Civil or Ecclesiastical would have enforced them thereunto And accordingly the Ministers of the Church offended with other two Gentlemen of much worth wisdom and Piety members thereof were sent as Messengers from that Church and at the Introduction and enterance into that Solemn Assembly the Solemnity of which ha's left as deep an Impression upon our hearts of Christâ— dreadful presence as ever any we have been present at It was openly and publickly professed in a Speech that was the Preface to that discussion to this Effect that it was the most to be abhorred maxime that any Religion ha's ever made profession of and thâ—refore of all other the most contradictory and dishonourabâ—e unto that of Christianity that a single and particular Society of mâ—n professing the Name of Christ and pretending to be endowed with a power from Christ to judge them that are of the saâ—e body and Society within themselves should further arrogate to themselves an exemption from giving account or being Censurable of any other either Christian Magistrate above them or Neighbâ—ur Churches about them So farr were our Iudgements from that Independent Liberty that is imputed to us then when we had least dependency on this Kingdome or so much as hopes ever to abide therein in peace And for the Issue and Success of this agitation after there had been for many dayes as Judiciary and full a Charge tryal and deposition of witnesses openly before all Commers of all Sorts as can be expected in any Court where Authority enjoyns it that Church which had offended did as publickly acknowledge their sinful aberration in it restored their Minister to his place again And ordered a Solemn day for fasting to humble themselves before God and men for their sinful Carriage in it and the party also which had been deposed did acknowledge to that Church wherein he had likewise sinned So that these Godly Learned Writers were so far from making a Popedome of a particular Church that they deemed it an abhorred maxime to affirme that a particular Church is unaccountable to or not Censurable by Neighbour Churches about them They therefore that do reject the Coâ—nsociation or Communion pleaded for want that which is one Specifical Character of a true Congregatiâ—nal man whereby such are distinguished from Brownists and Morellians whose Principles have ever been disowned and disavowed by Congregationals who have also thought themselves not a little inâ—ured when they have been represented as the same else how have Hornebecks Summa Controversiaruâ— de Brownishis and Bailies disswasive and other writings ej â—fde in commatis been so distastful and dissatisfactory to all of that way who understand what Principles they go upon Moreover that our Congregational Brethren are for such Communion of Churches as is by the late Synod asserted is yet farr more evident from the Testimony of blessed Burroughs in his Excellent Treatise about heart Dâ—visions see pag. 84. and 163. And in pag. 43 44. There are these words 1. Those in the Congregational way acknowledge that they are bound in Conscience to give account of their wayes to Churches about them or to any other who shall require it this not in an Arbitrary way but as a duty that they owe to God and man 2dly They acknowledge that Synods of other Ministers and Elders about them are an Ordinance of Jesus Christ