THE TRUE NATURE OF A Gospel Church AND ITS GOVERNMENT WHEREIN These following particulars are distinctly handled I. The subject Matter of the Church II. The formal Cause of a particular Church III. Of the Polity Rule or Discipline of the Church in general IV. The Officers of the Church V. The Duty of Pastors of Churches VI. The Office of Teachers in the Church VII Of the Rule of the Church or of Ruling Elders VIII The nature of Church Polity or Rule with the Duty of Elders IX Of Deacons X. Of Excommunication XI Of the Communion of Churches The Publishing whereof was mentioned by the Author in his Answer to the Vnreasonableness of Separation By the late Pious and Learned Minister of the Gospel JOHN OWEN D. D. LICENSED June 10. 1688. LONDON Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate street MDCLXXXIX THE PREFACE TO THE READER THE Church of Christ according as it is represented unto us or described by the holy Spirit of God in the Old and New Testament hath but a twofold Consideration as Catholick and Mystical or as Visible and Organized in particular Congregations The Catholick Church is the whole Mystical Body of Christ consisting of all the Elect which are purchased and redeemed by his Blood whether already called or uncalled Militant or Triumphant and this is the Church that God gave him to be head unto which is his Body and his Fullness and by union with him Christ Mystical Ephes. 1.22 23. and this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only word most fully expressing the Catholick Church used in Scripture the Church of the First-born whose Names are written in Heaven Heb. 12.23 i. e. in the Lamb's Book of Life and shall all appear one Day gathered together to their Head in the perfection and fullness of the New Jerusalem-state where they will make a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrincle or any such thing but Holy and without Blemish The day of Grace which the Saints have passed in the respective Ages of the Church was but the days of its Espousals wherein the Bride hath made her self ready but then will be her full married state unto Christ then will be the perfection not only of every particular Member of Christ but of the whole Body of Christ called a perfect Man and the measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ to which we are called Edifying and building up by the Ministry and Ordinances of Christ whilst we are in Via in our passage unto this Country a City with a more durable fixed Foundation which we seek In order therefore unto the compleating this great and mystical Body Christ hath his particular Visible Churches and Assemblies in this World wherein he hath ordained Ordinances and appointed Officers for the glorious forementioned Ends and Purposes There is no other sort of Visible Church of Christ Organized the subject of the aforesaid Institutions spoken of but a particular Church or Congregation either in the Old or New Testament where all the Members thereof do ordinarily meet together in one place to hold Communion one with another in some one or more great Ordinances of Christ. The first Churches were Oeconomick when the Worship of God was solemnly performed in the large Families of the Antidiluvian and Postdiluvian Patriarchs where no doubt all frequently assembled to the Sacrifices as then offered and other parts of Worship then in use After the descent of a numerous Progeny from Abraham's Loins God takes them to himself in one Visible Body a National but Congregational Church to which he forms them Four hundred and thirty Years after the Promise in the Wilderness and although all Abraham's Natural Posterity according to the External part of the Promise made to him were taken into visible Church-Fellowship so that it became a National Church yet it was such a National Church always in the Wilderness and in the Holy Land as was Congregational for it was but one Congregation during the Tabernacle or Temple-state first or second they were always bound to assemble to the Tabernacle or Temple thrice at least every Year hence the Tabernacle was still called the Tabernacle of the Congregation They were to have but one Altar for Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices what others were at any time elsewhere called High-Places were condemned by God as Sin. Lastly when Christ had Divorced this People Abolished their Mosaical Constitution by breaking their Staff of Beauty and their Staff of Bonds he erects his Gospel Church calls in Disciples by his Ministry forms them into a Body furnisheth them with Officers and Ordinances and after he had suffered rose again and continued here Forty days in which time he frequently appeared to them and acquainted them with his Will ascends unto his Father sends his Spirit in a plentiful manner at Pentecost whereby most of them were furnished with all necessary miraculous Gifts to the promoting the Glory and Interest of Christ among Jews and Gentiles Hence the whole Evangelical Ministry was first placed in the Church of Jerusalem so far as extraordinary or such a part of it as was to descend to Churches of after Ages neither were they placed as abiding or standing Officers in any other Church as we find In this Church they acted as the Elders thereof and from this Church they were it 's very likely solemnly sent by Fasting and Prayer to the Exercise of their Apostolick Function in Preaching Healing and working Miracles gathering Churches and setling Officers in them even so as Barnabas and Paul were sent forth by the Church of Antioch Their distinguishing Apostolick Office and Charge from which the Evangelist differed but little was to take care of all the Churches not to sit down as standing Pastors to all or any particular Congregation but at the first planting to gather to direct and confirm them in practice of their Doctrine Fellowship breaking Bread and in Prayer Wherefore this Apostolick Care committed to them proves nothing either of the Catholick Authority claimed by an Oecumenick Pastor or that charge of many Congregations claimed by Diocesan Bishops Whence it 's most evident That all Church Officers so far as they had any Pastoral or Episcopal Office was given to a particular Congregation as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We read of no Pastors of many Congregations nor of no Church made up of many Congregations to which Officers were annexed nor of any representative Church as some would have That Apostolick Power did descend to Successors we utterly deny it being not derivable for none after them could say They had been Eye Witnesses of our Lord before or after his Resurrection none since so qualified by an extraordinary measure of the Spirit for Preaching and working Miracles and none but the Pope challenges such an extensive Care for and Power over all Churches That which descends from them to the ordinary Ministry is a Commission to Preach and Baptize and why not to Head it being always in the
as that by virtue of their Office they are to use it unto all its ends in his way and method whereof the Conversion of Sinners is one And for a Man to conceive of himself in a double capacity whilst he is Preaching to the same Congregation is that which no Mans experience can reach unto 2. In occasional Preaching in other places whereunto a Pastor of a Church may be called and directed by Divine Providence For although we have no concernment in the figment of an indelible Character accompanying Sacred Orders yet we do not think that the Pastoral Office is such a thing as a Man must leave behind him every time he goes from home or that it is in his own power or in the power of all Men in the World to devest him of it unless he be dismissed or deposed from it by Christ himself through the Rule of his Word Where-ever a true Minister Preacheth he Preacheth as a Minister for as such the Administration of the Gospel is committed unto him as unto all the ends of it whereof the chief as was said is the Conversion of Souls Yea of such weight is it that the Conveniency and Edification of particular Churches ought to give place unto it When therefore there are great Opportunities and providential Calls for the Preaching of the Gospel unto the Conversion of Souls and the Harvest being great there are not Labourers sufficient for it it is lawful yea it is the Duty of Pastors of particular Churches to leave their constant attendance on their Pastoral Charge in those Churches at least for a Season to apply themselves unto the more publick Preaching of the Word unto the Conversion of the Souls of Men. Nor will any particular Church be unwilling hereunto which understands that even the whole end of particular Churches is but the Edification of the Church Catholick and that their good and advantage is to give place unto that of the Glory of Christ in the whole The good Shepherd will leave the Ninety and Nine Sheep to seek after one that wanders and we may certainly leave a few for a season to seek after a great multitude of wanderers when we are called thereunto by Divine Providence And I could heartily wish that we might have a trial of it at this time THE Ministers who have been most celebrated and that deservedly in the last Ages in this and the neighbour Nations have been such as whose Ministry God made eminently successful unto the Conversion of Souls To affirm that they did not do their work as Ministers and by virtue of their Minsterial Office is to cast away the Crown and destroy the principal glory of the Ministry For my own part if I did not think my self bound to Preach as a Minister and as a Minister Authorized in all places and on all occasions when I am called thereunto I think I should never Preach much more in this World. Nor do I know at all what Rule they walk by who continue publick constant Preaching for many years and yet neither desire nor design to be called unto any Pastoral Office in the Church But I must not here insist on the debate of these things 6. IT belongs unto Men on the account of their Pastoral Office to be ready willing and able to comfort relieve and refresh those that are tempted tossed wearied with fears and grounds of disconsolation in times of trial and desertion The Tongue of the Learned is required in them that they should know how to speak a word in Season unto him that is weary One excellent qualification of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Discharge of his Priestly Office now in Heaven is That he is touched with a sense of our Infirmities and knows how to succour them that are tempted His whole Flock in this World are a company of tempted ones His own Life on the Earth he calls the time of his Temptation And those who have the charge of his Flock under him ought to have a sense of their Infirmities and endeavour in an especial manner to succour them that are tempted But amongst them there are some always that are cast under darkness and disconsolations in a peculiar manner some at the entrance of their Conversion unto God whilst they have a deep sense of the terrour of the Lord the sharpness of Conviction and the uncertainty of their Condition Some are relapsed into Sin or omissions of Duties some under great sore and lasting Afflictions some upon pressing urgent particular Occasions some on Sovereign Divine Desertions some through the buffetings of Satan and the injections of blasphemous Thoughts into their Minds with many other occasions of an alike nature Now the Troubles Disconsolations Dejections and Fears that arise in the Minds of Persons in these Exercises and Temptations are various oftentimes urged and fortified with subtil arguing and fair pretences perplexing the Souls of Men almost to Despair and Death It belongs unto the Office and Duty of Pastors 1. TO be able rightly to understand the various cases that will occurr of this kind from such principles and grounds of Truth and Experience as will bear a just confidence in a prudent Application unto the Relief of them concerned The Tongue of the Learned to know how to speak a Word in Season to him that is weary It will not be done by a collection and determination of cases which yet is useful it its place For hardly shall we meet with two cases of this kind that will exactly be determined by the same Rule all manner of Circumstances giving them variety But a Skill Understanding and Experience in the whole nature of the Work of the Spirit of God on the Souls of Men of the Conflict that is between the Flesh and the Spirit of the Methods and Wiles of Satan of the Wiles of Principalities and Powers or wicked Spirits in high places of the Nature and Effects and Ends of Divine Desertions with Wisdom to make Application out of such Principles of fit Medicines and Remedies unto every Sore and Distemper are required hereunto These things are by some despised by some neglected by some looked after only in stated cases of Conscience in which Work it is known that some have horribly debauched their own Consciences and others to the scandal and ruine of Religion so far as they have prevailed But not to dispute how far such helps as Books written of cases of Conscience may be useful herein which they may be greatly unto those who know how to use them aright the proper ways whereby Pastors and Teachers must obtain this Skill and Understanding is by diligent study of the Scriptures Meditation thereon fervent Prayer Experience of Spiritual Things and Temptations in their own Souls with a prudent observation of the manner of Gods dealing with others and the ways of the opposition made to the Work of his Grace in them Without these things all pretences unto this Ability and Duty of the Pastoral
cases Dubious and Disputable wherein Right and Wrong are not easily determinable unto all unprejudiced persons that know the Will of God in such things Nor is it to be admitted when the matter of Fact stands in need of Testimony and is not proved by Two Witnesses at the least 2. ALL Prejudices all Partiality all Provocations all Haste and Precipitation are most carefully to be avoided in this Administration for the Judgment is the Lords Wherefore 3. WE are continually in all things that tend unto this Sentence and eminently in the Sentence it self to charge our Consciences with the Mind of Christ and what he would do himself in the case considering his Love Grace Mercy and Patience with instances of his Condescension which he gave us in this World. 4. THERE is also required of us herein a constant Remembrance that we also are in the Flesh and liable to Temptation which may restrain and keep in awe that forwardness and confidence which some are apt to manifest in such cases In all these things a watchful Eye is to be kept over the methods of Satan who by all means seeks to pervert this Ordinance unto the Destruction of Men which is appointed for their Edification and too often prevails in that Design And if by the Negligence of a Church in the management and pursuit of this Ordinance he gets advantage to pervert it unto the Ruine of any it is the fault of that Church in that they have not been careful of the Honour of Christ therein Wherefore 1. AS Excommunication by a cursed Noise and Clamor with Bell Book and Candle such as we have instances of in some Papal Councils is an horrible Anti-christian Abomination So 2. IT is an undue Representation of Christ and his Authority for persons openly guilty of profaneness in sinning to Excommunicate them who are blameless in all Christian Obedience 3. ALL Excommunication is Evangelically null where there is wanting an Evangelical frame of spirit in those by whom it is Administred and there is present an Anti-evangelical Order in its Administration 4. IT is sufficiently evident that after all the Contests and Disputes about this Excommunication that have been in the World the Noise that it hath made the horrible Abuses that it hath been put unto the wresting of all Church-Order and Rule to give countenance unto a corrupt Administration of it with the needless Oppositions that have been made against its Institution there is nothing in it nothing belongs unto it nothing required unto its Administration wherein Mens outward Interests are at all concerned and which the smallest number of sincere Christians in any Church-Society may not perform and discharge unto the Glory of Christ and their own Edification IT is the Mystery of Iniquity that hath traversed these things into such a state and posture as is unintelligible unto spiritual Wisdom unpracticable in the Obedience of Faith and ruinous unto all Evangelical Order and Discipline CHAP. XI Of the Communion of Churches CHURCHES so appointed and established in Order as hath been declared ought to hold Communion among themselves or with each other as unto all the ends of their Institution and Order For these are the same in all Yea the general end of them is in Order of Nature considered antecedently unto their Institution in particular This end is the Edification of the Body of Christ in general or the Church Catholick The promotion hereof is committed jointly and severally unto all particular Churches Wherefore with respect hereunto they are obliged unto mutual Communion among themselves which is their consent endeavour and conjunction in and for the promotion of the Edification of the Catholick Church and therin their own as they are Parts and Members of it THIS Communion is incumbent on every Church with respect unto all other Churches of Christ in the World equally And the Duties and Acts of it in all of them are of the same kind and nature For there is no such disparity between them or subordination among them as should make a difference between the Acts of their mutual Communion so as that the Acts of some should be Acts of Authority and those of others Acts of obedience or subjection Where ever there is a Church whether it be at Rome or Egubium in a City or a Village the Communion of them all is mutual the Acts of it of the same kind however one Church may have more Advantages to be useful and helpful therein than another And the abuse of those Advantages was that which wrought effectually in the beginning of that disorder which at length destroyed the Catholick Church with all Church-Communion whatever For some Churches especially that of Rome having many Advantages in Gifts Abilities Numbers and Reputation above many above most Churches for usefulness in their mutual Communion the Guides of it insensibly turned and perverted the Addresses made unto them the Advises and Assistances desired of them in way of Communion or their pretences of such Addresses and Desires into an Usurpation first of a primacy of Honour then of Order then of Supremacy and Jurisdiction unto the utter overthrow of all Church-Order and Communion and at length of the whole nature of the Catholick Church as stated and subsisting in particular Churches as we shall see ALL Churches on their first institution quickly found themselves indigent and wanting though not as unto their Being Power and Order yet as unto their well-being with their preservation in Truth and Order upon extraordinary Occurrences as also with respect unto their usefulness and serviceableness unto the general end of furthering the Edification of the Church Catholick The care hereof and the making provision for this defect was committed by our Lord Jesus Christ unto the Apostles during their Lives which Paul calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 11.28 The care of all the Churches For what was only a pressing care and burden unto them was afterward contended for by others as a matter of Dignity and Power the pretence of it in one especially being turned into a cursed Domination under the Stile and Title of Servus Servorum Dei. BUT if a Thousand pretences should be made of supplying Churches defects after the decease of the Apostles by any other Order Way or Means besides this of the equal Communion of Churches among themselves they will be all found destitute of any Countenance from the Scripture Primitive Antiquity the nature use and end of Churches yea of Christian Religion it self Yet the pretence hereof is the sole foundation of all that disposal of Churches into several stories of Subordination with an Authority and Jurisdiction over one another which now prevails in the World. But there is no place for such Imaginations until it be proved either that our Lord Jesus Christ hath not appointed the mutual Communion of Churches among themselves by their own consent or that it is not sufficient for the preservation of the Vnion and furtherance of the