recourse to the most proper Methods for enquiring into the Reasons and Grounds of Religion and for distinguishing the True Religion from the False and an Orthodox from an Heterodox Faith whether by applying to the proper Ministers of Religion separately or in Council And upon a fair and impartial Enquiry that which appears to be True and Orthodox is to be cherisbed defended and promoted against all Attempts and Invasions of the Heterodox and Unbeliever even tho' some present Temporal Interest seem to clash and interfere with it These were the Unalterable Laws and Principles of the first and most pious Christian Emperors upon which they enlarged the Territories of the Christian Church SECT III. But to this 't is popularly reply'd That if Kings and Princes once thought themselves obliged to espouse the Care of Religion as a positive Duty considering the Errors and Superstitions of Mankind it would prove the most effectual Method not only to obstruct the growth of the True Religion but endanger the Extirpation of it But in answer to this it 's to be considered That the Propagation of Religion does not direct to Acts of force and violence much less the Protection of it except where the Rights and Immunities of the Established Religion are apparently invaded Besides it 's concluded the Magistrate is not to proceed blindly but apply himself to the True Means of Information and if he miscarries tho' he may one day answer for any Sinister Motives that carried him into a wrong Determination yet GOD will find Methods to support his own Designs and consequently advance the Interests of the True Religion by Secret and Invisible Springs tho' his Ordinary and Standing Provisions afford the most unlikely Prospect Sometimes Persecution it self is the most prolifick Soil for the True Religion to shoot forth and flourish in Christianity had not only its first Foundation in it but we are assured received Great Increases from it So Tertullian in his Apologetic boasts Nec quicquam tamen says he proficit exquisitior quoeque crudelitas vestra ILLECEBRA EST MAGIS SECTAE Plures efficimur quoties metimur a vobis SEMEN EST SANGUIS CHRISTIANORUM Tertull. Apolog. pag. 45. But in a word if the Care of Religion is a standing Duty in the Magistrate as has been abundantly evinced and if there be such a thing as a True Religion and sufficient Means if duly attended to to distinguish it from the False the Undoubted Rule is That the Duty is to be pursued and the Consequences left to the Providential Care of the Blessed Author of it who has the Hearts of Kings and the Sovereign Disposal of Grace and will in the Course of Affairs undoubtedly ascertain the Usefulness of his own Means and the Ends of Religion for which they were designed And as for that Magistrate who upon a Principle of Zeal for the Honour of his Maker shall thus carry on the Designs of the True Religion he 'll no doubt one Day be made partaker of a Reward that will every way answer that labour of love which he has shewed towards his Name he 'll one Day infallibly find a Remembrance sutable to the Supplications of that Excellent Governour Nehemiah Remember me O my GOD concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the House of my GOD and for the offices thereof Neh. 13. V. 14. SECT IV. I proceed to the second Enquiry viz. When there are two or more Sects of Religion under any Government why the Magistrate is under an Obligation of protecting or rather advancing the one more than the other And First I shall consider this Argument with regard to the Oeconomy of the Christian Church And in order to this it will be requisite to enquire into the Rights and Authority of a National Church And First it s indisputably evident the Christian Church is one Society or Body of Men united to CHRIST and each other in certain External as well as Internal and Spiritual Bonds of Union It 's truly a Seamless Garment nay it bears the Exact Portraicture of a Natural Body whereof CHRIST is the Head from whom the whole Body fitly joyn d' together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body Eph. 4. 16. In a word it carries the Symmetry and Proportion of a Building fitly framed together growing into an holy Temple in the LORD Eph 2.21 The first Division of this Spiritual Body arises from the Necessity of Divine Worship viz. into particular Congregations Other Distributions arise from the Necessity of Government which is warranted and established by the express Canon of Scripture Thus Obey them that have the rule over vou and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls Heb. 13.17 And St. Pauls Instructions to Titus are For this cause I left thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting Ch. 1. ver 5. And These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority Ch. 20. We may add to this the Power of Binding and Loosing and Excommunication it self being expresly committed to the Ecclesiastical Powers and evidently demonstrating the Necessity as well as Divine Authority of Ecclefiastical Government But to return Whatever Distributions were made either from a Necessity of Worship or Government every Branch or Part is indispensibly bound to maintain this Mystical Union by a Communion in the Essentials of Faith Government and Discipline for otherwise it 's impossible the Christian Church should answer the Character of a Natural Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth even to the making increase of the Body As for the Government of the Church we are assured partly from Scripture and partly from the earliest Antiquity That the Order of Bishops and Metropolitans rests on Apostolical Institution Both Timothy and Titus in the judgement of the most Learned Presbyterians were Superior to the rest of the Clergy within their Districts at least in Jurisdiction if not Order And tho' Antiquity has not expresly fix'd the Origine or Rise of Metropolitans yet it may justly be presum'd to be Apostolical For First St. Paul directs an Epistle to the Metropolitical Church to be communicated to the whole Province for such was Corinth in the Province of Achaia To the Church of GOD which is at Corinth with all the Saints that are in all Achaia And pursuant to this we find the Governments of Metropolitans in the first Council of Nice ranked among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ancient Customs Can. 6. and in that of Antioch styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The most ancient Canon in force from the times of our Forefathers But that which conduces to the present Argument is That all the Establishments of Church Government and the Districts of particular Churches were originally modeled according to that of the State The Bishop presided over a City and the adjacent
Empty Name but carries very momentous Offices and Duties in it it implies a Zeal for the Honour of GOD and the True Religion and consequently it engages the Magistrate to study such wholesom Provisions as will advance the Ends and Interests of it to the utmost Boundaries of his Dominions and those that thus wait for CHRIST shall not be ashamed Isai. 49. v. 23. And now Sir I hope I have prepared You for the main Argument You proposed by informing You how the Magistrate is determined for the Interests of Religion and particularly those of this National Church SECT VI. I shall proceed to consider Whether the Restraint of the PRESS is not a Necessary Provision not only to advance the Interests of the True Religion but to preserve and maintain the Ends aud Designs of it as profess'd in a National Church And this will appear from the Necessity of a publick Establishment in Religion and the Pernicious Influences which the Liberty of the Press has upon it It 's already concluded that GOD has instituted a Governing Power in the Christian Church and the accommodating it to the Districts of the State and the Constituting the Civil Magistrate a Guardian and Protector of the Church of CHRIST is at least a sufficient Warrant of the Lawfulness of a publick Establishment if not an Indication of its Necessity Indeed since there are Governing Powers in the Church of CHRIST we must conclude that GOD foresaw a great many Difficulties and Miscarriages under the great Revolutions and Emergencies of Human Affairs which he has Authorized them to adjust correct and remove and this will justly infer the Necessity of publick Decrees Articles or Canons and that too in Matters of Faith Worship and Practice It cannot be denied but Scripture it self has established the Authority of such Powers and Injunctions and consequently it 's an indisputable Argument of their Necessity since GOD never imparts special Powers or Functions but he infallibly discerns the Necessity and Usefulness of 'em Thus we have General Rules directed to particular Churches in the business of Publick Worship That things be prescribed and done according to the Laws of Decency Order and Edification And no doubt St. Paul points at the same thing when he reminds Titus why he placed him over the Church of Crete That thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting Tit. 1. 5. So that we may justly conclude there 's a Power given to prescribe such Laws and Rules and make such Publick Declarations as manifestly tend to the Edifying the Body of Christ or as are requisite to maintain the Catholick Laws of Unity or the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace But to descend to particulars And first as to matters of Faith Indeed it will be easily granted That the Holy Scriptures are a compleat Rule of Faith and consequently they seem to be a competent Standard for the Governours of particular Churches to try the Faith of Christians by But yet we are assured that they contain a Great many things hard to be understood which the ignorant and unlearned wrest to their own destruction and consequently things of the greatest moment and importance Again we are assured that Heresies will come that there will arise False Christs and False Prophets and Men of corrupt Minds who have not only erred but are reprobate concerning the Faith In a word it 's impossible but Controversies and Divisions as well as Offences will come this is the case of every Tribe or Colony of Christians And is there no Judgment to be made in these Circumstances Are these Persons to be suffered to proceed in their Errors and pervert the Faith of others If this must be so for what End has the Blessed AUTHOR of our Religion placed Governours and Pastors in his Church and enforced their Authority by the Discipline of special Censure They cannot remonstrate against them without making a Judgment whether the Doctrine be of GOD or is consonant to the Canon of Faith And yet 't is their Duty to declare the whole Counsel of GOD in these Cases And certainly if Private Pastors are Authorized to expound the Sence of Scripture and make a Judgment in these Matters and expect the Directions of the Holy Spirit to wait on their pious Labours and Endeavours much more may an Assembly or Council of Church-Governours interpose state the Sence of Scripture and deliver a Definitive Sentence in express Articles and Decrees and expect the Influences of the same Spirit in the whole performance Certainly where two or three or more are for these Ends gathered together it may justly be presumed GOD will be in the midst of ' em These are Proceedings warranted by the Practice of the College of Apostles and of all particular Churches from their Days to this very Hour Such Errors Divisions and Miscarriages concerning the Faith authorized and gave birth to the Confessions of Faith in all Particular Churches They were the only Barriers against Heresie and Error and indispensibly necessary to preserve the Unity of the Faith and the Church of CHRIST from Distraction and Ruine To affirm that Scripture in these Cases is a sufficient Rule and reject all Interposals or Determinations pursuant to it is to mistake or perplex the Argument For tho' Scripture is an adequate Rule of Faith and Manners yet GOD has constituted Guardians and Trustees to assert the Sence of Scripture and enforce a Faith and Practice conformable to it and to deny this is in effect to discard the necessity of any Visible Ministry since Scripture with the help of private Reason is as much an adequate Rule in this respect as the other and consequently there could be no necessity of a standing Ministry It 's true these Publick Determinations these Confessions of Faith are not established upon a Spirit of Infallibility but they are not to be rejected or less necessary because not Infallible GOD has not thought fit to impart a Spirit of Infallibility in the Exercise of the Power of Excommunication yet Scripture establishes it as a Standing Ordinance in his Church A Spirit of Infallibility does not accompany the Ministerial Function and yet GOD has made it absolutely necessary In a word then in as much as they are Decisions grounded on Scripture supported by Reason and confirm'd by the joynt Authority and Suffrage of the Church of GOD in the earliest Ages and of Saints Confessors and Martyrs they are the most apposite Moral Instruments under GOD and the use of Reason to determine the Judgment and satisfie the Conscience or at least to stop the Mouths of Gainsayers as far as concerns the outward Peace of the Church In this Case they become indispensibly necessary there must be some External Umpire and Decision where Matters must at last terminate that the publick Peace and Unity things in the judgment of our Blessed Saviour of the greatest value and importance may not be sacrificed to the Dissentions Heats and Animosities of
Villages and Territories where a Temporal Magistrate was likewise placed As the Metropolis of every Province had its Proconsul in the State so it had its Archbishop or Metropolitan in the Church And when the Government of Patriarchs prevailed it was formed after the same Model either in Imitation of the Vicars or Lieutenants that presided over a Diocese composed of several Provinces or at least in Imitation of the Pretorian Prefects that had several Dioceses under their Jurisdiction Upon the whole then as we are assured That the forming a Government in the Church after the Model of that of the State was by Apostolical Institution so we may justly conclude that it was by the special Directions of the Holy Spirit And no doubt the great Design was to advance the Interests of Religion by placing every particular Church under the Protection of the State whenever it should become Christian. And certainly as it was the only true Expedient to enable the Civil Magistrate to execute that Trust that is lodged in the Character of a Father or Nursing Mother to the Church of Christ so it 's a considerable Argument that the Care and Protection of the True Religion is a standing Duty incumbent on the Civil Magistrate For to make the Districts of particular Churches terminate with those of Civil Governments was absolutely necessary to make the Civil Magistrate the Supreme Guardian of the True Religion and since 't is an Ordinance that may very justly be resolved into Apostolick Institution it 's a manifest Indication that the Civil Magistrate should be obliged punctually to answer the Character whenever he became Christian. SECT V. From hence we may gain a true Notion of the Rights and Authority of a National Church And truly if we duly weight the Premises we must conclude That it rests upon nothing less than Divine and Apostolick Institution For if the Apostles themselves constituted particular Churches with regard to the Districts of particular Provinces and the Government of the State and if it be a standing Duty in the Christian Magistrate to protect and advance the True Religion within his Dominions we must conclude That a Church is to be established upon that Model of Government which was instituted by our Saviour or his Apostles in every respective Nation over which the Magistrate is to preside as a Father or Guardian and Protector and such a Church is what in other terms is called a National Church and a Church thus established undoubtedly rests on the Authority of Divine or Apostolick Institution I would not be mistaken as if I intended to deny the being of a National or Provincial Church till it has obtain'd a Civil Establishment for it 's manifest the Churches of Greece and of the Proconsular Asia had a being and a distinct Denomination before Christianity was received in the Courts of Princes Indeed when a particular Church enjoys a Civil Establishment it receives as it were a new Authority in as much as it becomes a Civil Right or Property So that unless its Constitution is Materially vitious and finful it 's a high piece of injustice to destroy or infringe any of its Established Rights or Immunities But yet since the Magistrate is only the Guardian not the Founder of a National Church its Original Authority resting on certain positive Laws and Sanctions enjoyned by a Power superiour to that of the Magistrate even that of GOD Himself where-ever a Church in any Province or Nation professes the True Religion by an Orthodox Faith and a pure Worship under Lawful Church Governours and Pastors that is the True National Church in opposition to all dissenting Sects and Parties tho it wants the Authority of a Civil Establishment But to return From hence we may easily determine the merits of the Question in debate I mean When there are two or more Sects of Religion in any Government why the Magistrate is under an Obligation of protecting or rather advancing the one more than the other For First it is abundantly demonstrated that the Christian Magistrate ex officio is constituted a Guardian Father and Protector of the True Religion and therefore if in any Nation or Government the true Religion is professed in an Orthodox and a pure Worship under lawful Church Governours and Pastors there the Magistrate is indispensibly boundto act as a Guardian and Protector in opposition to all Models and Platforms that are advanced against it For by this alone he pursues the Great Design of the Apostolick Platform in the Institution of National Churches as well as answers that of his Character I mean as he 's Prophetically styled a Father to the Church of CHRIST It 's certain one Great Design of Christianity is Unity or to range all the Parts and Members of the Church of CHRIST into an Holy Building and therefore if the Magistrate is constituted a Guardian of the True Religion all his Offices of Succour and Protection must be directed to this End I mean the maintainance of the Bonds of Catholick Unity throughout his whole Dominions Without this the Great Ends and Proposals of so pure and holy a Religion cannot be accomplished and therefore whatever Indulgences or Exemptions the Christian Magistrate may rightfully grant to Erroneous Judgments or Consciences acted with simplicity and a pious Disposition he cannot upon the Laws and Oeconomy of the Gospel or any Authority derived to him from thence rightfnlly give a Positive Establishment within the Districts of the same Government to two Opposite Communions or Altars of Worship especially when one of them is founded in a revolt from a pure and Orthodox National Church This is the very reverse to a Protector and Defender of the True Religion For it implies a power to pervert the Great Design of the Christian Religion vis a Unity of Faith and Worship by dissolving the Bonds of Catholick Unity and Authorizing the Members of CHRIST'S Mystical Body to disband and break into Schisms and Factions whereas it's an External Rule That the Magistrate can only challenge a Power to Edification not to Destruction This is so far from being a Prerogative of the Magistrate that where a National Church is constituted under Lawful Governours and Pastors tho' there may be some Defects or Errors in her Faith Discipline or Worship he 's not to unhinge and demolish but to endeavour to correct and remove them by such Means and Instruments as GOD in his revealed Will has decreed and appointed and when this is done he 's not to suffer any opposite Sects or Factions so much as to break in upon any of her Apostolick Rights or Immunities For it 's manifest the Duty of a Guardian Parent and Protector is to use all prudent Methods to cultivate and improve to advance the Interests and enlarge the Priviledges of those under his Care much more to defend them from Violence or Incroachment To be appointed a Father and a Protector of CHRIST'S Church or the True Religion is not an