the tithes Gods portion for their maintenance and God now gives this rule that the b 1. Cor. 9.11 ministry sowing spirituall things should reape of the carnall things sowed by the Laity And in what proportion rather should that be then in that which was of old Gods portion namely a tenth part of the encrease of the ground and cattle And if we upon good ground of the equity of the Law give God and imploy in sacred duties every seventh day of our whole time as before was done in the Patriarchs time and under the Law hath not likewise our Church now well ordained that the Ecclesiastical estate should have the tithe of the increase of the earth and cattell as was done in the Patriarchs time and in the times under the Law The equity of both is alike Besides the generall Rule of mens bounty or duty in this kind shewing their thankfull acknowledgement to God was to make the extent thereof according c Deut. 16.17 Lev. 5.7 11. 14.21 Neh. 5.8 Acts 11.29 1. Cor. 16.2 2. Cor 8.12 to their ability and according to Gods blessing on their labours as God hath prospered their estate And what can bee more sutable thereunto then to render unto God a tenth ever in use untill Christs time when by Heathen tyranny it was interrupted For thus it will come to passe that each man shall have nine parts for his owne use and Ecclesiasticall persons receive a tenth and so partake in a fit proportion with the Laity in yeares of plenty and scarcity and condole in affliction or rejoyce in Gods bounty together with the Laity In the first times of the world the Kingly and Priestly offices were conjoyned in one person and must needs make him of more authority and require and move the people in their own hearts to shew the more reverentiall observance in civill and sacred duties But afterward when the burden and charge was become very great too heavy for one person to undergoe God appointed Mosem custodem utriusque tabulae to take the speciall charge of civill matters and Aaron of the Priestly calling And afterward untill Christs time the Priests tooke care of the sacred performances and were usually assistant unto the chiefe Rulers and Kings as Eleazer to Josua in dividing Canaan Zadock to Solomon in building the Temple Jehoiadah a preserver and instructor of Joash Jehosuah in commission with Zorobabel at the returne from Babel And as the chiefe Fathers and Princes of the severall Tribes assisted the King in civill matters so the Priests and Levites were subordinate to the high Priest in Ecclesiasticall businesses and he and they subject to the King so now when the Kingdomes and occasions of Christian Princes are much increased they have made use of Nobles being men of eminent parts for civill affaires and of Ecclestasiicall men being conspicuous for vertue religion prudence and learning in Ecclesiasticall performances And as the d Deut. 17.9.2 Chro. 19.6 8. Priests and Levites were in joynt commission with Judges for the judgement and cause of the Lord whose the Judgement is so have such Ecclesiasticall men as above been joyned in Judgement with prudent Lay-men in Courts where Christian Lawes subordinate to Gods Law and guided in many things by humane reason and by custome of the Nations well settled have bin the Rule determining controversies Furthermore As the Jews had one solemn place for Gods worship and service namely the Temple in Jerusalem where every day sacrifice was made and holy rites performed and prayers and praises offered up to God and had also many Synagogues in their Land for prayer and expounding the word so have not our forefathers under the Gospel being partakers of a better Covenant and enjoying better promises then they of old well shewed their thankfulnesse to God by building large and goodly Churches for prayer and praising God thrice every day and for frequent preaching in the great Cities of this Land and yet built in the lesse townes and villages ordinary and smaller Churches and Chappels for prayer and preaching at due times Where God affords more meanes he requires more duty according to mens ability so in regard that the great Cities have beene more able to build furnish and maintain Gods Churches and service they may seem religiously in this but to have done their duty Yet the equity of this will not extend so farre as Rome doth stretch it arrogating to her selfe a superintendency over all the world and desiring that all Churches on the earth should vaile to her and depend and be regulated by her as all Canaans Synagogues and Ecclesiasticall persons received their direction from Jerusalem For first in the time of the Law there was such a multiplicity of rites and ceremonies and performances that had not God made the King his Counfell and the chiefe Ecclesiasticall persons in Jerusalem to regulate all parts of the Land of Canaan unity and concord in all points could never have bin observed but in the Christian Church and in the worship and service of God therein Christ ordained few and easie Sacraments a plainer and more familiar doctrine of faith and practise so that it is very possible to keepe peace and unity and for Churches in Lands farre remote one from another to be of one accord and mind if they will rest in the simplicity of the Gospel much more for all the greater Churches in our Land to agree one with another in all performances and chief doctrines and necessary truths because they have the same plain direction from sacred Scripture and one King Parliament to regulate them Secondly whereas God foretold that many a Rev. 17.13 14 15 c. Kings should give power and authority to a tyrannous Beast and should submit themselves to the great City which then raigned and ever since desired to domineer over the Kings of the earth and yet should afterward when the Lamb of God Christ had overcome them re-assume to themselves their own power given them by Christ and should hate that great City called by the Spirit of God The Whore and make her desolate and naked This is in great part already come to passe and Kings and Queens have become nursing fathers and mothers to the Church and rightly hold and maintaine that they have supreme power in their owne Kingdoms next and immediately under Christ the head of the Church and are as independent of any forraine person whatsoever as David and Solomon in their times and therefore that they neither ought nor may be subordinate to the Roman Church which is now manifestly proved to have left her first love and to be The Whore whom the Kings of the earth should ruinate But to returne to the observances of old In the Law from which an equity being deduced is still of use in the Christian Church wee observe that there were in those times * This word is often answerable to the Hebrew for the courses of the
Priests and Levites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts of God of administrations and operations By Gods appointment and gracious dispensation the high Priest had the chiefe place other Priests were under him the Levites inferiour to these had one chiefe in every degree the rest under them had their different administrations some were Singers others Porters Some of these were gifted by God for exposition of Scripture or Prophecy or making sacred hymnes and other holy imployment So in time of the Gospel There were b 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6. diversity of gifts by one and the same Spirit diversity of administrations by one and the same Lord diversitie of operations by one and the same God Of the Disciples and scholars of Christ some were called to be Apostles and Teachers and Workers of miracles c. some to be Evangelists some to be Prophets These trained up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Attendants Deacons fellow workemen fellow souldiers These according as the Apostles pleased and saw expedient for the Churches use grew up from Schollars or Disciples to be helpers or Deacons and then afterward to be fellow workmen and fellow souldiers with the Apostles themselves for they of inferiour gifts were to endevour to obtain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the c 1. Cor. 12.31 more excellent gifts This Paul commands In the Law the chiefe places of the Priests and Levites over their brethren came to them by succession of bloud so that the hoary head found in the way of a faithfull and right performance of the charge entrusted unto him upon the death of the Sar or Nagîd prince or chiefe man in the high priesthood or any of the 24. Courses and the other places was preferred and succeeded the deceased But in time of the Gospel the Apostles and Apostolicall men by their appointment having the dispensation of matters under their Lord Christ committed to them and observing in severall persons the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gracious gifts bestowed by the divine power upon them whom they instructed destinated them to administrations and imployments accordingly which were diversified as was requisite for the building of Gods Church For as in the d 1 Co. 12.12 naturall body there be divers members of more noble or meaner use and all even the meanest very usefull so 't is in the Church or body of Christ And in regard that the Church is here militant under Christ the chief captain he hath his under and subordinate Captains they inferiour captains under them and lastly the common souldiers namely each private Christian who all in their places civill or sacred war under Christs banner for God hath not gifted men with an equality of courage and indowments and therefore intended not a parity either in Civill or Ecclesiasticall places There were of old among the sacred officers Sarim Negidim Nesiim Chieftains Rulers Princes of the sanctuary for the well ordering of the Priests in their severall administrations according to their faculties who were under them and doth not the equity of the matter require the same subordination in the Church of God now yea it appeareth that the Church of God was so ordered in the Primitive times for Christ ascending into heaven sate there as King of kings to preserve his people notwithstanding all Roman tyranny and appeareth there as high Priest for ever He sent twelve Apostles Bishops under him into severall parts of the world they disposed of such scholars as Christ in his life time or themselves did educate and instruct and planted Apostolicall men Presbiters Deacons their fellow workmen and the rest under other titles as they found the occasions of Gods Church to require and people fitted and ready to receive them This was put in practise in the seven Churches of Asia at Philippi Corinth and elsewere For see what course was observed in some few Churches the like we may conceive of the rest for their generall carriage The Epistles in the Apocalipse are directed to the e Apoc. 2. 3. Angel of each Church of the seven in Asia as denoting one principall man in each for so The Lord of the vineyard The Lord of the House The Lord of that servant elsewhere speeches in form like these imply one speciall Lord and not many Lords one equall to another Besides in those times there were some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not men which seemed to be eminent and were not but who were such as they seemed men f Gal. 2.6 9. of chiefe place above others dignified both by God and men pillars in Gods Church not pillars in the same rank as all good Christians are that is standing stedfast in Gods truth but pillars in regard of eminency and administration above others such were James Caiphas John And Paul and Barnabas taken unto them Again God who is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Architection The chief builder of the Church vouchsafeth the title to St. Paul that he is called an Architecton g 1. Cor. 3.10 a chiefe builder which intimates that the other Apostles were chiefe builders also and if Paul may well be stiled an Arch-builder he may also rightly be called an Archbishop Also St. John the Apostle was an Archbuilder an Archbishop under Christ The Archbuilder and the Archbishop For if Paul was so the same cannot be denyed to John Quia similium similis est ratio Christ supreme in authority gives order to John John sends the Epistles to the Angels of the Churches the Angels receive them for their own and the other Teachers for there were other Teachers besides the seven Angels and the peoples instruction This also is deducible from the equity of the Law and the order settled among the Priests of old for while Aaron the Type of Christ was alive Eleazar his sonne was stiled Nasi Nesiim Prelate of prelates or Chieftain of chieftains and the chief fathers in the 24. courses are Roshei Aboth Archpatriots and Patriarchs And seeing the new Testament doth often borrow not onely doctrine but termes of speech from the old and that very usually may we not judge that we have Architecton and Patriarch Bishop and the like borrowed from the old Testament and conceive that in the Grecian Eastern and African Churches as well as in the Roman Western Churches these titles and a like subordination of governours have taken place seeing Paul calleth himself Architecton this warranteth the rest of like nature Only a care must be had that they who have these titles 1. must not love a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23.6 the title or preheminence belonging thereunto nor earnestly affect to be great in dignity but being call'd to any high place becom as Moses meek men and be truly fathers and overseers performing usefull service for the whole Church where they are thus dignified for Christ forbidding men to be called b verse 8 9 10 Rabbi Father Doctor yet in Scripture stileth men by the same c
God was much enlarged The Church is now and ever was a Body consisting of severall members some in this a 1 Cor. 12. Body are eyes some hands some feet c. some b Luk. 22.26 are greater and chiefe some lesse in the Kingdome of Christ The lesse have a lesse service or charge the greater and chiefe are or should bee of greater service and imployment for the good of the whole and so they are indeed though it may seeme otherwise A prudent and considerate man will not judge the belly in the Roman Apologue to bee idler then the other parts nor the Master of the Ship sitting at the Sterne a lesse actor for the welfare of the passengers then they which tug at the oares or hoyse or strike saile As the hand and foot are content with their owne offices so should each member in the Church but yet there is a difference in some regard for one of inferiour place in the Church may desire the improvement of his talent and abilities may desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was said above As Saint Paul approves this so the practice of the primitive times shew it then to have beene usuall Matthias of a Disciple was made an Apostle Philip of a Deacon became an Evangelist Furthermore concerning the performance of these Ecclesiasticall offices Saint Paul speaking of and particularly reckoning up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the diversities of Gods gifts sheweth a more excellent way to use them namely That whatsoever gift of God in this kinde any one hath hee should above all make use of Christian love without which tongues prophesie knowledge faith and all other gifts and graces are nothing and with which Christian love if any ones heart bee truly enflamed hee will apply himselfe to doe good in the Church in whatsoever kinde hee can as Pastor as Deacon as a fellow-workman as a Presbyter as an helper c. yea doe any usefull service in the Church as God gives ability and occasion is offered So Saint John being an Apostle did as a Prophet write the Revelation and as an Evangelist also his Gospel a divine supplement to the three other Gospels and then his Epistles Paul sent forth to preach did sometimes baptise performed the part of a Deacon and Evangelist yea became all things to all men But how may it appeare that any one as a Bishop had many Presbyters and Deacons under him or had a Diocesse or a large circuit of a country to be overseen by him Answer Wee may observe that the Apostles in regard of thepaucity of labourers in the great harvest of God had large as I may call them Diocesses and that each of them settled Presbyters in many Cities as we conceive by that which we read of some of them It is also manifest that there were many Presbyters at once in a Act. 20. Ephesus Acts 20. in Jerusalem Act. 11.30 in Antioch Act. 13.1 b Act. 11.30 at Caesarea there were at one time Philip the Evangelist Paul c Act. 13.1 and the companions of his travels Agabus and Luke These would not have stayed there but that there was worke for more then one of them Seeing professours of Christianity much increased and the Apostles endevoured to hold them in the true faith and still to convert more Proselites it necessarily followeth that they would not see them want any needfull supply of Teachers and Instructors but sent their Ministers and helpers to any Church as any present occasion required and that they call'd them back as they found necessary and expedient for any other place And seeing some Cities were large and had many a Act. 13.5 Synagogues which the Apostles made use of and so probably such as were by them sent or left there to preach it was requisite that they should have more then one Presbyter for the same over which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angell of the Church was left When the rest of the twelve Apostles were dead and Saint John onely left alive but aged he not able to visit some remote Churches in his own person by writing to the seven Churches of Asia informed every one who had an eare in any Church whatsoever to heare their duties These Angels might according to the example of Titus left by Paul in Creet ordaine Presbyters in every of their Cities They might also try those who said * Rev. 3.9 Rev. 2.2 they were Jewes that is Christians and might examine them who pretended to be Apostles and were found lyars Had not these seven Churches more then one Teacher entertained in them no stranger would have fained * Say he was an Apostle a mission unto any of them and if the Angell of a Church exercised his power to examine and reject false pretenders we see thereby what his authority was for he who could do thus by a stranger might doe as much by a Presbyter bred up in his owne Church As for Diocesses the thing is ancient For the great Cities of old had some Pagi or villages neer adjoyned and subordinate to them Hence we read of a Jos 15. Gilead Ekron c. and their villages of Jerusalem b Ezek. 16. and her daughters Of this there is no need to doubt because it is usuall in all Countries whatsoever as being a thing for many reasons expedient and therefore wee may well grant that Ephesus Smyrna Philadelphia c. had some villages depending on them and subject to them and that therein some free men of the chiefe Cities did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inhabit And thus the thing is ancient how late soever some affirme the name to be Men also have used of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to dwell together for mutuall defence and comfort one of another so that the thing here also is ancient and was fitted of old for the name of Christian Parishes Suppose there were such adjacent villages to the great Cities and that the retired persons and shepheards there harkned as soon or sooner to the Gospel then the richer and greater Citizens who were cumbred with worldly imployments burdened with the weight of honourable places because also the shepheards of Bethlehem and Joseph of Arimathea and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coasts neer adjoyning to the more noble Cities were often more attentive to the Gospel then the great men in Jerusalem and other large Cities suppose all this yet how will it appeare that these Angels or chief Overseers of the Churches had such large revenues as some Bishops in these our dayes Answer To this an answer is easily made No man can expect that a river should have so great a stream at or neer the spring head as it hath after many miles running 'T is not possible that a Lords or Knights house in New-England should be as well built furnished and attended as a Lords or Knights house usually in Old-England The Angels and Presbyters of the primitive times found stronger
heire that is not onely enjoy his substance but succeed him in the Priesthood and continue the knowledge of Godamong the rest of his retinue In the times next after Moses and Josuah's death it pleased God to let the Israelites know by experience the evill consequences of the want of a chiese Rulet to bee Deputy under God for thereupon it followed that f Judg. 2.11.12 21.25 every one did that which was good in his owne eyes This gave occasion to the people to neglect the Priests maintenance and to the Priests g Judg. 17.8 to become servile and matters both in civill and Ecclesiasticall State h Judg. 2.12 3.7 10.13 to be very corrupt and Idolatry to prevaile whereupon God punished them with forraigne enemies famine and civill warre When Samuel * 1 Sam. 3.19 20. was deputed Gods Prophet Priest and Judge he took speciall care of Gods worship and the observance of his Laws Upon Samuels religious performances and i 1 Sam. 7.3 the peoples repentance God himselfe supplyed the place of k 1 Sam. 12.12 their King or Ruler and all the time of Samuel before Sauls raigne plagued l 1 Sam. 7.13 14. the Israelites enemies and gave Israel repossession of the Lands which in time of the Judges they had lost by negligence of the Rulers and of the Priests at the corruptions of those times doe evince When God defending his people as their King was unthankfully rejected and Saul annoynted to rule over them who in many of his carriages proved an evill Deputy of God and trespassed so far that God rejected him Samuel and the Priests in place after him better observed and continued the Ecclefiasticall charge After David and Salomons time Jeroboam made Gods Deputy over ten Tribes set up Idolatry cast out Gods Priests made lewd Priests fitting his own humour and thus set up a wicked pattern which his successors imitated till God sent Israel captive to Assur Now also Rehoboam and some wicked Kings of Judah badly managed the deputation with which God entrusted them yet the Priests driven from their Cities in Israel were entertained by Rehoboam and setled their abode in Judah and Benjamin There were also in those times houses of the Prophets supplyed with Students in Bethel Gilgal and Jericho The m 2 Kin. 4.23 new moons and Sabbaths were by some observed first fruits paid to n 2 Kin. 4.41 the Prophets by some some o 2 Kin. 10.23 Priests servants of the Lord remained in Israel yea in the dayes of Athaliah's most wicked usurpation there were some p 2 King 11. religious Captains of hundreds and some Priests observant of their courses as wee see by one course of the Priests going out of their charge another part coming in on the Sabbath all of them at good Iehojadah's cōmand By these religious assistants help Iehojadah slue Athaliah and seated Ioash true heir to the Crown on the Throne as Gods Deputy In his later dayes and in the dayes of the bad Kings who succeeded him the deputation was corruptly managed and all good order exceedingly depraved so that God suffered Babel to overcome Judah and carry the Jewes away captive as Assur had done Israel After Malachies time when the neighbouring nations of Egypt and Syria and q 1 Mac. 1.11 some false brethren among the Jewes themselves caused great mischiefe to the people of God so that no King sate on Davids's throne to take care of the Civill and Ecclesiasticall government yet the b 1. Mac. 1.23 Sanctuary of God the golden Altar the Candlesticke the Table for the shew bread and the like remained untill Antiochus Epiphanes tooke them away The bookes of the Law the customes and rites the Sabbaths and feasts were kept untill this wicked tyrant sought to abolish them Notwithstanding all pressures and miseries befalling this people some c 1. Mac. 4.56 among them endevoured to live according to Gods Laws paid their d 1. Mac. 3 49. first fruits and tithes maintained their e 1. Mac. 3.55 Captains of thousands hundreds fifties tens And here when Egypts and Syria's power began by Romes rising to decline the Maccabees inflamed with a zeale to their Law and Nation and incouraged by the peoples applause were not content with their owne Ecclesiasticall charge and to blow the trumpets for stirring up their peoples valour valiantly to defend their liberty but tooke to themselves the places of Princes and Captaines 1. Mac. 5.3 6. and in their owne persons waged war against their enemies In Christs time the Pharisees sate in Moses chair and taught some things well but loved preheminence and badly managed it There were then some religious persons as Symeon Anna Joseph Mary Joseph of Arimathea and others These feparated not from the Jewish Church then much corrupted Zacharie ministred in the course of his family and departing to his owne dwelling place left the ministration to other Priests succeeding in their course And untill the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the slaughter or dispersion of this people the Rulers of the Jews in an obstinate presumption that the Messias was not then come and that yet he should come and be seene in that Temple and receive the kingdome of David strove to hold up the Lawes and Ordinances of Moses and David so far as the miseries and tyranny of those times would permit CHAP. III. Gods Deputation of the Government of the Church in and after Christs time and how for the chiefe passages thereof it was managed IN the fulnesse of time Jesus Christ came in his owne person did preach and instruct the Jewish Nation who were then very erroneous both for government and doctrine He found their Rulers to be unworthy husbandmen of Gods vineyard and that the people did persevere in the deviations of their factious leaders and blind Priests with extremity of obstinacy and would not admit him the Lord of the vineyard to rule over them Therefore forty and odde yeares before the desolation of the City and Temple that the Nation might have time to repent Christ began to builde the Christan Church by his owne gracious sermons and dying for the sins of the world rose again and sent his Apostles unto all Nations with the glad tidings of the Gospel and that the work might prosper by their ministration he sent down the Holy Ghost a comforter to his Church and Apostles to leade them into all truth and to furnish labourers with abilities for the building of the universall Church For effecting whereof a diversity a 1. Cor. 11.4 c. Rom. 12.4 c of gifts administrations and faculties were requisite Wherefore these were bestowed on the Apostles and others by one Lord one Spirit one God who worketh all in all and distributeth to every one severally according to his will that every one might profit and the members of Christs body by their severall offices as the