And therefore they are to serue God in the time of their excommunication Sect. 2. How the dispersed members of the catholicke Church serue God THus much of the causes why some of the meÌ„bers of the Church are dispersed abroad from the company of the Church Now we are to consider what manner of seruice they perform to God in regarde wherof they are accounted members of the Church The which title belongeth only to those who do serue God as hath beene declared The onely meanes whereby they serue God is praier or inuocation of the name of God because this seruice may be perfourmed by one alone but the ministery the word of the sacramentes and other partes of the seruice of God require acompany ioyning together for that purpose So that prayer is that part of the actuall seruice of God which onely belongeth generally to all the members of the Church which are come to yeares of discretion as well to those who are dispersed as to those who liue together in the Church Hence it is that the Apostle Paule when he speaketh of all christians without exception of any calleth them those who call vpon the name of the Lord as namely 1. Cor. 1.1 Thus did Daniell serue God in Babel Dan. 6.10 thrise a day he made his petition to God and praised him Heere order requireth that we should entreate of prayer the most generall and perpetuall part of the seruice of God yea that which is the very badge of all christians and declare the whole nature manner kindes fruite and all the pointes of doctrine belonging to this heade But we will rather passe it ouer with silence for that the matter is both large and requiring a seuerall treatise and also is sufficiently handled by diuerse godly and learned men Here also this question is to be answered whether that the dispersed members of the Church may not vse some other parte of the seruice of God as the sacrmentes for the confirmation of their faith As touching this point it seemeth that whilest any one member of the Church is wholly seuered from the societie of others that he cannot vse them neyther any other part but onely prayer as hath beene said Yet if there be any number of them although but two that then they may lawfully vse both the sacramentes of baptisme and of the Lordes supper For the further declaration whereof we may put this case A christian man and his wife being taken captiues liue amongest infidels where to their knowledge there is not any christian beside themselues There they beget children whome they woulde haue by baptisme consecrated and initiated into the profession of Christianity In this case it is lawfull yea needfull for the parentes both of them or eyther of them to administer baptisme to their children This appeareth Exod 4.25 where Moses and Zippora his wife circumcise their sonne by the commandement or rather by the threatning of God And so did all the Iewes being scattered abroade into all the partes of the worlde circumcise their male children in their owne houses Likewise for the other sacrament of the Lordes supper it is lawfull for christians in the aforesaid case to receiue it at their owne handes as this one example doth sufficiently prooue If it be obiected that the sacramentes being a part of the ministerie of the Church ought not to be administred but by a publicke person and in a publicke place we answere that where there is no Church there a priuate mans house is in steed of it and he himselfe in place of a minister Sect. 3. By what meanes the dispersed members of the Church are called THus much of that seruice wherewith the dispersed members of the Church serue God the which although it be imperfect yet it is acceptable to God where the rest cannot be had and is a sufficient meanes to worke their saluation So we reade Ezech. 11.16 the Lord saith that He will be to his people dispersed abroad in the captiuitie a little sanctuarie that is howsoeuer they were absent from the holy temple at Ierusalem in which place onely it was lawfull to offer sacrifice and to serue God in full and ample manner yet that God would accept that imperfect and maimed seruice which they should perfourme vnto him in their captiuitie by praier and circumcision For as touching the passouer it was a sacrifice and therefore could not be vsed in any place but onely at Ierusalem But although this imperfect seruice be accepted of God yet they themselues doe not so rest in it but that they doe and ought aboue all thinges in the worlde to desire to be in the societie of the Church that so they may enioy the full meanes of working their owne saluation and of glorifying God So that although they be absent in body yet in minde and affection they are ioyned with it In witnesse whereof as also to encrease this desire they did being in a straunge lande amongest the infidels pray toward the place of the Church and worship of God 1. King 8.48 Dan. 6.11 Psal. 84. Lastly it may be asked how those dispersed members of the Church which neuer were in the societie of other christians were called and became members of it whereunto we answere that in the ordinarie working of God there is no faith and true knowledge of God to be gotten but in the visible Church and in the company of beleeuers yet that God doth by extraordinarie meanes saue some who neuer were ioyned to the society of the Church The meanes which God vseth are knowen to him only yet some of them may be gathered out of the scripture As first the reliques of the true worship of God the which taketh such deep root in those places where it is planted that although the visible Church be cleane ouerthrowen yet there will some root of knowledge remain hidden in the ground euen as we see that where a garden replenished with great store of herbes hath been there wil be long after that it is defaced some sprouting vp So that the word of God as it is in the gospel coÌ„pared to a grain of mustard seed Ma. 13.31 in respect of the speedy gret groth of it vpwards so it may be coÌ„pared to it in that they both take so deep root that where they are once sowen there they remaine for many ages Thus there was a glimmering of the true worship of God dispersed abroade by the sonnes of Noah by the which meanes it came to passe that diuerse did in some sorte knowe God among the infidels As Melihezadec Iob with his friends Lot Baalâ—m of all them knowing the true God Yea in the idolatrie of Mahomet there remaineth something of christian religion hereof they holde many pointes although couered ouer with prophane fable Moreouer some liuing out of the Church are brought to the knowledge of God by the meanes and priuate teaching of some who haue beene of the Church Yea euen
zealous of the law yea Paule by the counsell of the Church at Ierusalem did goe about to make the Iewes beleeue that he also did liue according to the law of Moses Act. 21.26 and therefore we must thinke that he warneth the Galathians that if nowe in so great light of the gospell which teacheth the abrogation of the ceremoniall lawe and after so much teaching and so many admonitions they did still remaine blinde and obstinate yea and did turne backe againe to the orâ—ers of the lawe that then it was an euident signe that they were as yet destitute of the true knowledge and obedience of the gospell For if this had beene the first time wherein they had beene taught Christ he woulde easelie haue winked at this greate errour of ioyning the lawe and the gospell togither Likewise as concerning that detestable heresie of Arianismâ— we may well thinke the authours spreaders beginners furtherers and maintainers of it to haue beene men destitute of the spirit of God and that this heresie is especially in these ages a fearefull signe of eternalll reprobation Yet we are not to thinke so hardlie of those who were corrupted with it â—fter that it had ouerspred the greatest part of the worlde and so were caried away with the multitude to euill although it were in that time also a fearefull token of a reprobate minde for as in a common infection of the aire we cannot iudge of the state of mens bodies by popular diseases and deathes whenas both strong and weake men are in the same case so neyther in the common raigning of anie heresie can we perfectly discerne the state of mens mindes and soules by that token forsomuch as God doth sauesome euen by pulling them out of the fire And therefore we are charitably to hope the best of them who liue in grieuous errours not of wilfull blindnesse but of simple ignorance and not to doubt but that ignorant heretikes beeing religious and zealous seruers of God are in farre bettâ—r state as touching their saluation then they who professing the sincere doctrine of the gospell doe in their prophane liues denie the power thereof But that heretikes are to be accounted members of the Church we shall haue occasion to declare when we come to the corrupt state of a Church So that to conclude this pointe we doe and that as we trust and are perswaded by the worde of GOD giue the name of members of the Church and of christians to all that doe in outwarde profession holde the foundation of religion The which although in effect it be the same both before and since the time of the Gospell yet it hath some difference in respect of the diuersitie of the times For before Christ was exhibited in the flesh this was the foundation of religion I put my whole trust and confidence for my happinesse in the Messias whome God hath promised to sende for the redemption and saluation of the people of the seede of Dauid This foundation did the Church of the Iewes professe when Christ came and therefore euery one of that people was a member of the Church howsoeuer they did togither holde grosser heresies then the papistes doe at this day But since the comming of Christ this is to holde the foundation of religion I beleeue Iesus the sonne of Mary to be the sonne of God the promised Messias the Lord and Sauiour of the worlde and that in him onely saluation is to be had as it is more briefely set downe by the Apostle 1. Cor. 3.11 Another foundation can no man lay but that which is laid to wit that Iesus is Christ. To the which doctrine all opinions and assertions which are contrary are pernicious heresies and such as bring certaine damnation 2. Peter 2.1 There were many false propheâ—s among the peopâ—e as there are falsâ— teachers amongâ— you which bring in damnable heresiâ—s to wit these denying the Lorde Iesuâ— who bought them these bring vpon themselues swift damnation that is may certainly be accounted for damned As for the heresies of those who doe confesse the lord Iesus as they are more waighty and doe nearer approach to the grand heresie of those who do not confesse the Lord Iesus so they are more dangerous yet of themselues not beeing ioyned with obstinate and wilfull blindnesse not so desperate Sect. 5. Of those who dissemble their profession BVT before we leaue this point this question may me moued whether as the outward profession of faith without the trueth thereof in heart so the inwarde faith of the heart without out ward profession be sufficient to make a man a true member of the catholicke Church We answere that where true faith is there necessarely is also some outward seruice of God and some confession of the mouth by praier or some other meanes which be it neuer so little is sufficient to make a man a member of the catholicke Church But as for open and publicke profession of our faith before men true faith being weake may be destitute thereof so we read Iohn 12.40 that many of the chiefe rulers beleeued in Christ but neither did nor durst professe him before men these are members of the catholicke Church which is in visible but not of any particular Church vnlesse they doe professe their faith before others beside themselues So that outward profession of the faith although it be secrete and priuate maketh a man a member of the catholicke Church and open profession maketh vs members of the visible Church But it may be obiected against this whole doctrine that if the outward profession of the gospell be sufficient to make a true member of the Church then the diuels which confessed Iesus to be the sonne of Godâ— are truely christians We answere that this confession was extorted from them by the power of God and sometimes came from the malice of their nature that so they might procure danger to Christ but they doe not by faith relie themselues on God in Christ for happinesse neither doe they professe themselues to be his seruantes and that they are to loue him and labour to glorifie him as all christians doe So then as many are members of the misticall bodie of Christ and of his Church which are not as yet members of his visible bodie which is the visible Church militant heere on earth they not beeing as yet called to the knowledge of the gospell so many are called to be members of the Church who are not chosen Sect. 6. Who are without the catholicke Church AND thus we see what manner of seruing God is ment in the definition the other wordes which follow haue their vse for in that we require the seruice of the true God we exclude all heathenish and pagan people from being members of the Church because as it is Rom. 1.23 they passing by the creator worship creatures as Gods And lastly we adde these wordes in Iesus Christ because there is no true seruing of God the
doe cheifly teach the doctrine of the lawe yet that they doe also represent to our eyes and seale vppe to our consciences forgiuenesse of sinnes in that both of them doe take from vs the filthinesse of the fleshe Thus much of the doctrine of Baptisme the which is to be giuen so as that the body being dipped into the water the signification of it may be more euident and the force the greater in the eyes of those who see or receaue it Thus did Iohn baptist and therefore he chose our such places where there was much water Iohn 3.23 and this vse did remaine in some places in the ages following Those who are after this manner conuerted and baptised are with all diligence to be strengthned in the profession of the faith and to be edified therein as being most forcible witnesses of the trueth by whom they who remaine incredulous may be conuinced They are also in most earnest manner to be exhorted to constancie in their profession because their falling away would greatly hinder the building of the Church yea as soone as they haue attained vnto any measure of knowledge they are in like manner to be exhorted to lead a life which may be without scandall vnto those who doe not as yet beleeue and so without reproch vnto the gospell which they professe For the procuring whereof there is in the first planting of the Church great seueritie vsed both by God himselfe and also by his ministers against all such offences where by this worke may be hindered For whilest the Church is as it were in motion because at the first the truth of that profession is called into question the falling backe of one or any notorious offence doth wonderfully hinder the whole worke Therefore although many infirmities in knowledge and also in priuate conuersation were yea and ought to be gently delte withall till riper yeares yet those open offences whereby the building of the Church is hindred in respect either of those who are without or of those who are in the Church are seuerely to be punished Hither we are to referre those straunge iudgments which the Lorde executed vpon the wicked in establishing the lâ—gall gouernment by Moses as vppon Corath Dathan and Abiram Numbers 16.32 yea that seueritie in putting to death him that gathered sticks on the Saboath Numbers 15.36 yea also those fatherly corrections which the Lorde most seuerely layde vppon his owne seruants euen on Moses himselfe for doubting of his worde yea vppon the whole Church for murmuring and euen for the least offence So was Vzzath smitten 2. Sam. 6.7 that Dauid and the whole Church who then went about the repairing the enlarging and adorning of the worshippe of GOD might feare the Lorde So in building the temple at Ierusalem the least negligence of any of the people in furthering this worke had a fearefull curse annexed vnto it Nehem. 10.29 So were Ananias and Sapphira smitten with suddaine death Acts. 5. in so much that all both within and without the Church did feare the Lorde So Paule reiected Marke Acts. 15 38. for leauing them in that longe â—ourney which they made for the spreading of the gospell In this beginning it pleaseth GOD to giue great increase vnto his Church so that the preaching of the gospell is more effectuall in this infancy of the Church in conuerting many to the obedience of the faith then it is afterwardes Yea it is a greate signe that they who doe not yeelde obedience at the first wil be afterwards more and more hardned as the Apostle writeth 2. Cor. 4.3 If our gospell be yet hid it is hid to them that perish Yet the calling of the Lorde is not tied to any time and therâ—fore we are still to vse all good meanes that those who doe not at the first beleeue may be wonne at some other time 2. Timothy 2.25 for the effâ—cting whereof there may more forcible meanes be vsed nowe when as â—he trueth hath gotten some footing among them and is receaued of many the vanitie of their corrupt worshippe whatsoeuer it be is plainely to be declared and also their miserable and fearefull condition liuing in the same which at the first could not conueniently haue been done Yea further they are carefully by all meanes possible to be allured to loue the trueth by the good behauiour and honest conuersation of those who are called seeing them to be so woonderfully chaunged from ignorance to wisdome and vnderstanding from a corrupt and vicious course to a vertuous and godly life by their courteous and louing behauiour towardes them and generally by avoyding the offending them in all things as farre as may be The which meanes being diligently vsed we are not to doubt but that God will giue some good successe and blessing in the conuersion of many CHAP. V. Of ecclesiasticall gouernment so far forth as it is determined in the word of God Sect. 1. Of the lawes appointed by God for the gouerning of the church in generall SEing that we haue declared in some sorte what it is to prepare the matter for the building of a particular church we are nowe to goe on with the building of it and by ioyning these stones together in the foundation walles and other principall parts to giue vnto it the denomination and forme of a house for whenas a company of men are conuerted to the faith baptized there is the beginning or first foundation of a church but not a church vntill they ioyne together in some publike profession of the faith and the seruice of God For euen as when a great multitude of men are together in any place if they liue priuately euery one in his owne house not hauing any thing common or to doe one with another there is no common wealth because there wante magistrats lawes and orders to ioyne them together Againe as where there are many stones digged out of the grounde whereunto we resemble the conuersion of men to the faith and also hewed and wrought so that they haue lost their naturall rudenesse and now haue the forme of stones fit to be laide in a building which we may not vnfitlie cal the baptizing of those which doe beleeue if they lie asunder here and there there is no house till such time as they be laid fastened together â—n the iust compasse and forme of a house so it is in this case Men conuerted and baptized are indeede christians and members of the catholicke Church yet not of the visible Church neyther doe they make a particular Church vntill they ioyne together in some publicke seruice of God according to those lawes and orders which he hath appointed the which make these stones cleaue together Ephes. 2.11 in Christ all the building being coupled together groweth to be a holy temple in the Lord. Yea for the most part there was some space of time giuen to those who were conuerted to learne the orders and condition of a Church before
heretike Heretikes haue giuen their liues for the gospel Difference to be put betwixt the simple professours of errours and the obstinate maintainers of them What is the foundation of reliligion before and since the comming of Christ. The deuil hath knowledge but neither faith nor the profession of faith Mahometisme a mystical Ariaanisme No saluation The caâ—holicke Church cannot erre in the foundatioÌ„ of religion The catholicke Church hath often beene in most grieuous errours The catholicke Church doth continually encrease in number and in knowledge The catholicke Church hath no head oâ— outward gouernment The catholicke Church inâ—isible Dispersed Christians with the Churches professing the gospel make the Catholicke Church Eremeticall separation from the Church vnawfull How the sacraments may be priuately receiued God accepteth the imperfect seruice of those who cannot be in the visible Church Dispersed christians ought to labour by all meanes to ioyne themselues to some Church By what meanes God calleth those who are with out the visible Church Three things required to the constitution of a Church A diuerse gouernment maketh a distinct Church The whole nation of the Iewes made but one particular Church A particular Church often contained in one familie Why it was needful that the whole nation of the Iewes should be one particular church Better for a Church to consist of many christians then of a fewe No kinde of men excluded from being the Church of God The most barbarous may become Christians The planting of Churches belongeth to theÌ„ who haue either extraordinarie callings or the most excellent gifes Great care to be had in planting a Church The ministerie of the word was more effectuall in the primitiue Church then it hath bene at any time since The Iewes are to be conuerted by the generall consent of the Gentiles in receauing the gospell How infidels ought to be prepared for the doctrine of the gospell How the doctrine of the gospell is to be propounded to infidels Baptisme is the badge or liueray of christians Baptisme circumcision sacraments of the lawe of death Great seueritie in punishing open offences to be vsed in the planting of Churches The establishing of ecclesiasticall lawes among beleeuers maketh a Church Ecclesiasticall lawes or ecclesiasticall gouernment is partly diuine and partly humaâ—â— None but God can appoint the substance of Church-gouernment The gouernment of the Church alwaies changed to a better estate What was the state of the Church before the lawe What was the state of the Church vnder the lawe The state of the Church in the time of the gospel Thâ— Church in the time of the Gospel hath more of inward grace lesse in outward shewes and ceremonies The gouernment of the Church neuer altered but by men sent immediately from God The difference betwixt diuine and humane ecclesiastical lawes Humane ecclesiastical lawes are made of the circumstances of Gods worship How humane ecclesiastical lawes are set downe in the word of God In conuenieÌ„t lawes may lawfully be obeyed In making ecclesiastical lawes regard must be had of the knowledge or ignornance of the time Sharper laws to be made for one people then for another For what causes the multitude of ecclesiasticall lawes ought to be auoyded The difficulty of planting a Church maketh an vnâ—stablished state The number of Christians is to encrease daily The primitiue Church did most florish in spirituall giftes God maketh the building of the Church troublesomâ— and dangerous for the trial of those who build it The Church vttâ—râ—y â—uer throwen to mans iudgement Two kiâ—des of ciuil authoritie and 〈◊〉 What magistrates may be resisted in the cause of the Church The original of absolute authoâ—itie Vniust conquest and vsurpation may become a lawfull dominion Fliâ—ht iâ— time of persecution alwaies lawful and often good for the Church The Censures of the Church belong as well to christian rulers as to â—he people What cautions are to be obserued in excommunicating the câ—uill ruler Excommunication is no curse neither toucheth the authoritie of the magistrate Publicâ—e wants are to be priuately sâ—â—plied How we may lawfully remaine in an imperfect Church No corruption maketh them who holde the foundation of religion to be no Church The tenne tribes in their defection were the Church of God The ten tribes in thâ—ir defectâ— on were the Church of Gâ—d Idolatâ—ie the worship of the true God ioyned gâ—thâ—r The errours of the Iâ—wes before the comming of Christ. No publicke Church sauâ— the people of the Iewes til the daies of ConstaÌ„tine The causes of a priuate Câ—urch Priuate men may plante priuate Churches Euery one ought to builde the Church so farre as his authoritie stretcheth Christians in priuate Churches ought not to abhorre the company of infidels Priuate Chuâ—ches consist of the most sweeâ—e Chrisâ—ians What a publick Church is Why there were no publick Ch. in the daies of the Apostles Why publick churches can not be so perfect as priuaâ—e How publick Churches are called to the faith Publicke Churches stand no longer then they are vpheld by the ciuill magistrate The ministerie is a member of the ciuill bodie Magistrates haue charge of the soules their subiects No man ought to passe the limits of his calling in building the Church Christ is the head of the Church after another manner then men are The setting vp of a publicke Church doth not alter the forme of ciuill gouernment Ciuill states wel ordered are more fit harbours for the Ch. then disordered states In the first planting of a publicke Church the false worship is to bâ— abrogated by little little Obstinate infidels may be compelled to heare the word but not to be of the Church In case of necessity men of meane gifts may be admitted to the ministerie of the word The state of a priuate Church is popular but the state of a publicke Church is according to the forme of the ciuil gouernment Why the authoritie of the ciuill ruler ouer the Church is not mentioned by the Apostles in their writinges The vse of councels Why there is no meâ—tion made of couÌ„cels in the writings of the Apostles For what causes others besides the ministers of the word are to be admitted to ecclesiastical coÌ„sultations No ecclesiastical law can be made made in a publicke Ch. without the consent of the ciuill ruler The general consent of the Church confirmeth faith How the visible Church hath changed the dwelling place
by the fame of the true religiō some haue bene conuerted so was Rahab liuing in Iericho of whome it is saide Heb. 11. that she beleeued or by reading bookes containing the doctrine of religion Lastly it may please God to vse for this purpose that knowledge which remaineth in the minds of men since the fall of Adam and which is stirred vp by the contemplation of the creatures and all those meanes which naturall men haue for the attaining of knowledge These or any other meanes God may vse extraordinarily yea he may doe it without any meanes but in his ordinarie working none of these aforesaid meanes are auailable for faith is gotten ordinarely onely by hearing the worde preached and therefore we are to esteeme and iudge of them who haue not the ministerie of the worde that they wante the ordinarie meanes of attaining a true and sauing faith alwaies excepting the power and extraordinarie worke of God the which is not tyed to any meanes CHAP. III. Of a particular Church Sect. 1. Of the originall of particular Churches THus much of the dispersed mēbers of the catholicke Church the which state God doth accept where it cannot be amended but so that he wil haue al his seruantes to indeauour by al means possible to come liue together for their mutuall edification and therefore as for the more commodious maintaining of our temporall liues he hath appointed ciuill societies so for the beginning and maintaining of spirituall strength and life in vs he hath appointed holy assemblies which are particular Churches out of the which a christian may liue this spirituall life but yet in great weakenesse and danger euen as a man may preserue his naturall life in a desert place but he cannot haue perfect strength and health vnlesse he liue in some place frequented by men and replenished with thinges needfull for that purpose And therefore we are now to declare what a particular Church is Sect. 2. Of the definition of a parlicular Church A Particular Church is a company of men separated from the infidels of the world to serue God vnder al the same diuine and humane lawes or vnder the same ecclesiasticall gouernment both diuine and humane This definition doth in some sort comprehend in it the whole nature and essence of a particular Church and therefore a great part of this treatise is to be spent in the explication of it wherein that we may proceede in some distinct and plaine order we haue these three heads to obserue First the separating of those of whom the Church is to consist from the infidels of the world Secondly the diuine lawes by the which they thus brought together are to be ordered And lastly the humane lawes which are added to the lawes of God For euen as it is in the establishing of a common wealth or kingdome first men must be brought together who are to be the inhabitantes of that citie or country Secondly there must certaine generall and fundamentall lawes be made containing the very state and forme of gouernment and of subiection which must stand in force continually without any alteration and lastly there must be added some speciall positiue lawes which are often to be changed as present occasion shall require so is it in the establishing of a Church First men are called from infidelity to faith as from barbarisme to ciuility then they haue giuen vnto them the lawes which God in 〈◊〉 word hath made for the gouernment of his Church till the end of the world and lastly the changeable ecclesiasticall lawes of men Againe as we see men doe in the building of a house first they prepare stones then they ioyne them together in some fourme of a house till by little and little they set vp the whole frame of it and lastly they adde doores windowes fenses and whatsoeuer may serue for the vse of the dweller in like manner the calling of men to the knowledge of Christ is the preparing of the matter of a Church secondly the establishing of the gouernment of the Church the māner of seruing God is a setting vp of the frame of it an lastly the making of ecclesiasticall constitutions is the applying of this gouernment to the speciall vse of those men whome we woulde bring vnto the fourme of a Church that it may be a fit dwelling place for them This latter similitude we desire the reader to marke the rather for that we are to vse it throughout this whole treatise And that because it hath pleased the spiritte of GOD to teach vs so to doe who in the scripture doth for the most parte compare the Church to a house and to the buylding of it as we may see 1. Cor. 3.11.12 1. Tim. 3.15 1. Pet. 4.17 In this definition the last wordes onely the rest being of themselues plaine enough neede this explication that by humane lawes we doe not meane ciuill lawes but ecclesiasticall constitutions added to the lawes of GOD appointed in the worde by the which humane lawes being alwaies in some pointe or other differing from the lawes of other Churches particular Churches haue their difference and distincte limittes appointed to them For therefore we haue inserted this partickle all in the definition because many yea all the Churches in the worlde may agree in some ecclesiasticall constitutions but not in all So that the same gouernment maketh one and the same Church yea although they be distinguished into diuerse congregations and haue many distinct places of seruing God As if the lawes of any towne doe stretch to the suburbes and villages aboute there is but one corporation or ciuill bodie And to vse our accustomed similitude as that is one familie which hath the same gouernour ouer it the same orders in it although they be in diuerse roomes so it is in this behalfe a distincte gouernment maketh a distinct Church The gouernment is then distincte when eyther the humane Church lawes are diuerse or at the least the rulers and gouernours of the companie haue in their handes authoritie to make diuers lawes in that manner which we are afterwardes to declare So that where we see many distinct and diuerse assemblies or congregations of christians all to depend vpon one company hauing in their handes the saide authoritie and from thence to fetch all their constitutions and determinations of causes they are to be accounted not many but one onely particular Church which notwithstanding if they did no waie depend vpon any other were to be accounted so many distinct Churches So the Church of Israell although it did consist of many distinct townes and cities the which had their proper leuites and gouernours yet because for gouernment they did all depend vpon the high priest and the other priestes which did offer sacrifice in the temple at Ierusalem they all made but one Church So that those christians are to be accounted a particular Church which are ioyned together not onely in the same faith as the
whole catholicke Church is or in the same diuine gouernment as the whol visible Church is but also in the same humane gouernment to wit in the same humane ecclesiasticall lawes and the same gouernours Sect. 3. Of howe many a particular Church may consist AS touching the number whereof a particular Church doth consist the least may be giuen but not the greatest the least is the least number of one priuate familie within the compasse whereof a particular Church hath often beene contained So in the beginning there was a particular Church in the familie of Adam for they did iointly together and in common offer sacrìfice and serue God This Church consisted of foure persons at what time there was a publike seruice of God namely Adam Eua Cain and Abel Likewise in the time of the generall deluge the Church consisted of those few persons only which were within the Arke If it be obiected that in so smal a number as are three or foure persons there cannot be al the officers much lesse the bodie of a Church we confesse that they cannot make a perfect Church yet a true Church But more heereof when we come to shew what an imperfect state of a Church is The greatest number cannot be defined for a whole nation whereof there is no certaine number may be one particular Church as was the nation of the Iewes as hath beene shewed in the former section Yet the greatest number of a Church rightly established may thus generally be determined to wit that the Church consist of no moe then can without confusion or any manifest inconuenience meet together at one time and in one place to serue God so that none be by reason of the multitude excluded hindred or troubled in the seruice of God for God is not the author neyther any approuer of any kinde of confusion which as in all other actions so especially in these holy assemblies ought carefully to be auoyded If it be heere answered that this confusion which doth arise of too great a number may be auoyded by deuiding one and the same particular Church into diuerse assemblies and by appointing to each part of the Church seuerall and distinct places of meeting we confesse that this may be done vpon necessitie and for the auoyding of a greater inconueniencie but otherwise it ought not neyther can conueniently be done for besides that it is vndecent to see one body of a Church so distracted and pulled asunder into many parts it is also in many respectes inconuenient For first so great a multitude as must of necessitie be deuided into diuerse assemblies can hardly be so well ordered and so diligently looked vnto as the Church ought to be Secondly by this meanes both the labour of the teachers wil be increased and also the profit of the people much diminished who neyther can goe on in knowledge altogether nor yet be alwaies made partakers of the best and most excellent ministrie as they ought to be As for the Church of the Iewes which did consist of a farre greater number then coulde conueniently serue God together we answere first that it was necessary that this nation should be made one Church because it was needfull in diuers respectes that there shoulde be but one place of the presence of God one high priest one temple and place of offering sacrifice Secondlie that the whole nation of the Iewes might more conueniently meete together in the publicke seruice of God then the hundred part of them could doe in the time of the gospell for then the publicke seruice wherein all were bound to meete was but seldome to be perfourmed to wit thrise in the yeare at the three solemne feastes And then they did not giue themselues so much to the hearing of the worde and to publicke prayer as to the offering of the sacrifices commaunded in the lawe So that that seruice did require onely presence at Ierusalem or about the temple but our seruice requireth particular and diligent attention On the other side in the gathering of a particular Church this is carefully to be auoyded that it doe not consist of too few For we are not to thinke that any smal number of beleeuers do make a competent congregation but rather to desire that it may consist euen of so many as may conueniently come together into one place and there without confusion be made partakers of all those meanes whereby they are to be edified in the obedience of faith For the moe there be in the congregation there wil be a greater abundance of spiritual graces whereby the publicke functions of the Church yea all other wants whatsoeuer may be more easely and abundantly supplied there will also be found more pregnant examples of speciall vertues and graces in the liues of men and the ministerie of the worde will haue many diuerse strange and singular effectes in men which cannot be had in a Church consisting of a small number CHAP. IIII. Of the planting of a particular church Sect. 1. Of what people the Church may be planted THE planting of a Church consisteth in two thinges first and principally in bringing a competent number of men to beleeue imbrace the gospell euen as in the building of an house the first part of the worke is to digge stones out of the ground for that purpose secondly in giuing vnto them being thus called the sacrament of baptisme as the badge of their profession this is to hew and make them fit for our purpose In the first part we haue these pointes to consider first what kinde of men are fit to be the matter whereof the Church should consist Secondly by whom they ought to be conuerted from infidelity to christianity and lastly after what manner Of the first point the worde of God doth plainely teach vs that there is no people or nation in the world no state or condition of men whatsoeuer excluded but that the Church may consist of them Math. 28.19 Goe ye and preach the gospel to al nations baptizing them in the name of the father the sonne and of the holy ghost So that there is no people in the worlde eyther so dull and blockish but that they may be taught or so sauage fierce and barbarous but that they may be subdued to the obedience of the gospell As the prophet Esay foretolde Esay 11. that the power of the kingdome of Christ shoulde be so greate that men who of themselues were euen as Tygers Lyons Leopardes and as most sauage beastes should be made tame and gentle Yea this prophecie is ratified by the euent of thinges wherby we see that euen the most barbarous nations and generally all kindes of people haue submitted themselues to the gospell of Christ. And yet some kinde of people are more fit for this purpose then others and doe more easelie yea more vsuallie submitte themselues to the gospell Euen as we see that there is difference in stones whereof some