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A35429 An essay concerning church government out of the excellent writings of Calvin and Beza / by A.C. Cunningham, Alexander.; Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605. 1689 (1689) Wing C7590; ESTC R24901 4,607 9

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AN ESSAY CONCERNING Church Government Out of the Excellent WRITINGS OF CALVIN AND BEZA By A. C. M. A. Printed Anno DOM. MDCLXXXIX TO THE MODERATE PRESBYTERIAN WEre Picques and Resentments kindled unto Charity Prejudices of Education and Wordly Designs laid aside RELIGION preferred to Interest and the power of Godliness to that of Dominion then all the powers of Hell endued with the Pharisee himself should never make Protestants of this Reformed Church of Scotland divide about matters of Ecclesiastick Government It is clear to a Demonstration such as the Nature of the thing requires that a President Episcopacy hath the Divine Institution the Apostolick practice the Reception of the Primitive Church and the Solemn Approbation of a Revelation from Heaven This Demonstration from Calvin and Beza themselves is the matter of this Essay Which I cheerfully offer to your censure and ingenuity Adding my Hearty Prayers That Our Zion may at length be at unity within her self serving one Lord according to one Rule with one Heart and Mouth to the Glory of GOD the joy of Heaven and all good Men upon Earth The true happiness of the King and People The good contentment of our Brethren abroad And the Melancholy displeasure of the Adversary DEFINITIONS I. THE Power of ORDINATION is that Right in the Governours of the CHVRCH to separate Persons duely Qualified unto the Holy Ministry of the Gospel II. The power of Iurisdiction is that Right in the Governours of the Church to make Canons which are wanting or to Execute those already made for the Regulation of Church-Members III. The President Bishop is he who from his Office Pre-eminent to other Ministers is invested with a fixed Power of Ordination Regulated bv Canons and of Jurisdiction ballanced by assisting Ministers IV. The Angel of any Church Representative is the President Bishop over the other Ministers within the Respective Diocess Province or Patriarchat POSTULATUMS I. THat the 70 Disciples from among whom Matthias was called to be ordained one of the 12 Apostles were Persons in holy Orders in the Ministry II. That b Timothy in the Church of Ephesus Titus in the Church of Crete were from their Offices preeminent to other Ministers invested with a fixed Power of Ordination and Jurisdiction regulated by Canons and ballanced by assisting Ministers III. That for the avoiding of Schism the Primitive Church retained the Government of one single person pre-eminent in Office unto other Ministers IV. That the 7 Angels of the 7 Churches written unto in the Book of Revelation are incouraged against all the devices of the ungodly upon condition of their continuing faithfull in their Administrations AXIOMS I. THE Regular Call of any Minister already ordained is from an Office of an inferiour to another of a Pre eminent Station II. The Pre-eminence in any Office includes a proportioned Jurisdiction over the Officers who are under them III. The Divine Right is manifest in that Ecclesiastick Government which is instituted by Christ continued by his Apostles retained in the Primitive Church and approven from Heaven by Revelation in subserviency to any end wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned IV. The want of that Government in the Church which is of Divine Right is pernicious to the Gospel and Christian Religion PROPOSITION I. The twelve Apostles were President Bishops over the 70. Disciples Demonstration THe President Bishop is he who from his Office Pre-eminent to other Mininisters is invested with a fixed power of Ordination Regulated by Canons and of Iurisdiction ballanced by assi●ting Ministers by Definition III. But in respect to the 70 Disciples who were all in the holy Ministry by Postulatum I. and from among whom Matthias was called to be of the 12. by Postulatum I. The s●cred College of the Apostles had a fixed Pre-eminence by Axiom I. Invested with the power of Ordination regulated by Canons by Postulatum I and Definition I And of Iurisdiction ballanced by Assisting M●nisters by Axiom II. Therefore the 12. Apostles were President Bishops over the 70. Disciples which was the thing to be Demonstrated PROPOSITION II. Timothy was a President Bishop over the Church of the Ephesians and Titus over the Church of the Cretians Demonstration These are President Bishops who are from thei● Office Pre-eminent to other Ministers invested with a fixed power of Ordination Regulated by Canons and of Iurisdiction ballanced by assisting Ministers by Definition III. But Timothy in the Church of Ephesus and Titus in the Church of Crete from their Offices had a pre-eminence over other Ministers invested with a fixed power of Ordination and Iurisdiction Regulated by Canons and Ballanced by Assisting Ministers by Postulatum II. Therefore Timo●hy was a president Bishop over the Church of the Ephesians and Titus over the Church of the Cretians Which was to be Demonstrated PROPOSITION III. The Fathers of the Primitive Church were President Bishops Demonstration The Primitive Church retained the Government of one single person pre-eminent in Office unto other Ministers by Postulatum III. But the pre-eminence in any Office includes a proportioned Iurisdiction over the Officers who are under them by Axiom II. And the power of Iurisdiction is fixed in the president Bishop by Definition III. Therefore the Fathers of the Primitive Church were president Bishops Which was to be Demonstrated PROPOSITION IV. The President Episcopacy is approven by CHRIST in the Book of the Revelation Demonstration The 7 Angels of the 7 Churches written unto by St John in the Book of the Revelation are incouraged against all the devices of the ungodly upon condition of their continuing faithful in their Administrations by Postulatum IV. But these Angels were president Bishops over other Ministers within their respective Churches by Definition IV. Therefore the president Episcopacy is approven by CHRIST in the Book of the Revelation Which was to be Demonstrated COROLLARIE I. The President Episcopacy is of Divine Right Demonstration The Divine Right is manifest in that Ecclesiastick Governuent which is instituted by CHRIST and continued by his Apostles retained in the Primitive Church and approven by CHRIST by a Revelation from Heaven for subserviency to any end wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned by Axiom III. But the President Episcopacy was instituted by CHRIST by Proposition I. Continued by His Apostles by Proposition II. Retained in the Primitive Church by Proposition III. And approven by CHRIST by a Revelation from Heaven by Proposition IV. For avoiding of Schism wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned by Postulatum III. Therefore the President Episcopacy is of Divine Right Which was to be Demonstrated COROLLARIE II. The want of the President Episcopacy is prejudicial to the cause of CHRIST Demonstration The want of that Government in the Church which is of Divine Right is pernicious to the Christian Religion by Axion IV. But the President Episcopacy is that Government
in the Church which is of Divine Right by the preceeding Corollarie Therefore the want of the President Episcopacy is prejudicial to the cause of CHRIST Which was to be Demonstrated Calvin Instit Lib 4 cap. 4 Sect. 2. This is to be considered that only the Pastors and not the whole multitude laid on hands on their Ministers at Ordinations Calvin Titus chap. 1 verse 5 We learn indeed from this place that there was no such Equalitie among the Ministers of the Church but that some One was pre-eminent in Authority and Council a Calvin 2 Tim chap 1. verse 6. Paul himself declares That he alone and no other Ministers with him laid on hands on Timothy b Calvin Inst lib 4 cap 4 sect 2 What ever parts the Consul had in the Senate the same Office did the Bishop alwayes sustain in the Meeting of Presbyters Beza Rev 2 chap 1 24 v To the Angel that is To the President as whom it behooveth especially to be admonished touching those matters and by him both the rest of his fellow Collegues and the whole Church likewayes 24 verse But unto you that is unto you the Angel the President and the Ass●mbly of your Collegues and to the Rest that is to the whole Flock Calvine Luke 10 chap I 16 vers After the Apostles had returned to Christ he sent out moe secondarie Preachers And this is the great commendation of the outward Ministry That CHRIST Declares that whatsoever honour is given to his Faithful Preachers is given to Himself Calvine 1 Tim 1 chap. 18 v a Timothy was not one of the common Ministry but one next to the Apostles who in the frequent absence of Paul was in his place Titus 1. 5. Beside the ord●nary Office of Pastors Titus had th●s charge that he should constitute a certain Form of Church Politie and Discipline and likewise ordain Ministers over the Churches Calvin Inst lib 4 cap 4 sect 2 Presbyters out of their number in all the cities chose one to whom especially they gave the title of Bishop lest from a Parity as useth to be Divisions might arise Ierom sayes at Alexandria from Mark the Evangelist to Heraclas and Dionysius Presbyters alwayes placed one in a pre-eminent degree whom they called a Bishop Beza Rev 2 chap 26 v My works that is he who shall faithfully perform the work laid upon him For he bespe●ks the Assembly of Pastors in the person of the President to whom he promiseth Victory against all the wicked if he rely and trust in the Authority and Power of that true and only head of the Church Calvin 1 Tim 3 13 Because in one or two Centuries after the death of the Apostles it was the constant custom that from the Order of Deacons the Presbyters were chosen therefore commonly they have exponed this place of the Advancement to a Superior Degree See Definition II. III. Calvin Inst ilb 4 cap 6 sect 1 We have not before touched upon the primacie of the Roman See whence the Papists strive to prove that the Catholick Church is only with them because it hath not taken its Original from CHRISTS institution nor the custome of the Ancient Church as the other Offices have done viz. Bish Presb Deacon cap 4 sect 1 mentioned already Calvin Inst lib 4. cap 8 sect 2 For neither the light and heat of the Sun Meat or Drink are so nourishing and sustaining this present Life as the Apostolick and Ministerial Office for preserving of a Church upon Earth