coyne twise or trise told over hee conceiteth that a Minister can not doe a thing in another Congregation but it must follow necessarily to be an act of his Ministerie 1. Cor. 14.24 Now hee should doe better to proove well once the point then to begge it so continually Besides to convince erroneous persons in the Church this is not alwayes a Ministeriall duety as hee unadvisedly affirmeth For men out of office may doe this as the word of God testifyeth and the learned teach * Beza annot in 1. Co. 14. Pet. Mart. in 1. Cor. 14 29.31 Paraeus in 1. Cor. 14.29 D. Ames de conse l. 4. c. 25. p. 215 Zwinglad Valent. compar Antibol avert Kinser Iac. Acont Strat. Sat. Sudek cont Turr. Soph. p. 67.68 Calv. Inst 4 1.12 Harm Syno Belg. pag. 21.22 Mr. Bates pag. 134. Defen Disc ag Bridg. 〈◊〉 129. Erast. True it is Mr. Paget hath bene a deadly enimy alwayes to it Notwithstanding never was hee able besides gibes reproaches to bring any thing to proove the unlawfullnes of it 3. The Churches of God at first had no Officers notwithstanding hee will not say but the Learned and able Brethren among them might convince erronious persons if there were just occasion for it Againe suppose a Church whose Pastours are taken away cannot get the assistance of a neighbour Minister to convince erronious persons then it seemes after his kind of disputing they must either all hold their peace what abilities soever they haue or if any one speake hee performeth a Ministeriall duetie or otherwise his talke here is quite besides the matter or just nothing which of these hee will owne for one hee must I leave it to his owne chose Lastly for these Scriptures Tit. 1.9.10.11 1. Timot. 5.20 they doe not proove any such thing for which hee brings them I grant indeed to refute erronious persons is sometimes a Ministeriall duetie and so is prayer reading the Scriptures expounding them c. Notwithstanding it will not follow when a Pastour doth these things in another Congregation that hee performes a Ministeriall duety or that Brethren out of office may not doe them also Yet this hee must proove otherwise his talke is like a tedious Musician ever turning never playing The 8 and last answer hee divides into 5 heads or branches Touching the 1 2 3 and 5 of them I except against in that they say nothing in the controversie betweene us and therefore they must stand aside In the 4 hee writes that members of the Catholike or Vniversall Church may have their infants baptised though they be not joyned to any particular visible Church To this I answer that hee neither speakes skillfully nor conscionably For 1. by the Catholike Church our Protestant Divines * Piscator Aphorism loc 19. p. 102. Perk. Expos Iude. p. 484. Vrsin Cat. part 2. pag. 347. Pet. Mart. Loc. Com. Class 2 p. 435. Polan Syntag l. 7. c. 4. p. 520. Alsted The. Polem part 4. p. 329. understand the company of Gods elect and chosen and hence name it ‡ D. Whita cont 4. Qu. 1. p. 78. Park Eccl. Polit. l. 3. p. 210. D. Reinol praef 6. Conclus p. 667. invisible spirituall misticall Yea some * Beza in Praef. Nov. Test printed 1561. D. Humphr in the life of Iewel D. Sutclif Chaleng l. 1. doe dislike the terme it self and call it a vaine and fruitles word And well they may for the Scripture hath it not neither is the author of it knowne but supposed * Sanford de Descend Dom. Nost ad in fer lib. 4. p. 28. and 30. to be a Papist But to the matter in hand If no infants out of particular visible Churches ought to be baptised but them whose Parents are knowne to be members of the Catholike Church then it will certainly follow that no infants whose Parents are not members of any visible Church may be baptised because the others are knowne to God onely Observe here how hee confutes himself and brings one argument forth against his owne case And indeed it is just with God that those which contradict the truth should contradict themselves most grosly too 2. Unconscionably to affirme a thing of such waight and consequence without shewing any word of God for confirmation of it doth hee thinke that wee owe him such obedience as to beleeve things because hee saith them If hee doe hee is greatly mistaken for to speake in another mans words Wee are not bound to Mr. Pagets writings wee esteeme them not as Canonicall but wee examen them by the Canonicall and what in them agreeth with the authoritie of Divine Scripture wee receive with his prayse What accordeth not therewith wee refuse with his leave Besides hee knowes well enought that mens sayings are of no force and value in matters of Religion without warrant from the Scriptures So say the Prophets a Deut. 13.1.2.3 Ezech. 13.2 Mich. 7.13 Ier. 23.31 Ezech. 14.9 so sayth Christ b Mat. 15.9 Iob. 5.39 his Apostles c 1. Cor. 3.21 Gal. 1.8 Iam. 2.1 Rom. 16.17.18 and thus write the Learned Tertullian d In Apol. Ignatius e Epist ad Hier. Hierome f In Psal 86 Basil g Serm. ad Adol Ambrose h L. 3. de incar Dom. Augustine i Epist 198. ad Fortun. Chrisostome k In Gal. c. 1. Aquinas l Lib. 9. art ult Calvin m Instit l. 1. c. 10. sect 8. Melancton n Loc. Theo. p. 627.628 Bucanus o Lec Com. p. 532. B. Iewel p Repl. art 1. Div. 29. Defen Apol. p. 604. Chassauio q Loc. Com. p. 98. Vrsinus r In Iesai c. 14. p. 450. and others In his writing against us hee is alwayes calling for testimony Where is their warrant where is their authoritie c. notwithstanding who more forward then himself to send things out into the world without proofe Before I end this point there are a few questions which I thinke very needfull to propound unto him Touching his Catholike or Vniversall Church 1. By what Scriptures the name and nature of it is warranted 2. VVhither all Parents with their infants Iewes Turkes and Pagans excepted be members thereof or not 3. VVhat are the notes of it 4. VVhither wee are to judge all the members of this large Church to be true beleevers 5. If this universall Church be visible then I would know of him why there ought not to be proportionable to it a universall Ministery and gouvernment I suppose hee will be willing to give a direct answer unto these things because hee professeth to have a great desire to informe his opposite Brethren in the truth Pref. The next Scripture is Coloss 4.17 And say to Archippus take heed to the Ministerie which thou hast received of the Lord that thou full fill it To this hee sayth nothing but referreth the Reader to the answer made to the former allegation onely hee
have justly deserved farther Censure ANSWER 1. IT is a note as God noteth it by Ezechiel of an unfaithfull sheapheard that hee seekes not that which was lost How directly this note appeareth in Mr. Paget may be seene here and els where in writing For howbeit hee hath set mee and others forth before all men for heynous offendours most sinfull walkers Ch. 33.4 deservers of Church Censures c. notwithstanding to this day he hath not performed a brothers duety Mat. 18.15 16. Lev. 19.17 Prov. 25.9 much lesse a Pastours towards any of us in using meeke and Christian meanes to bring us if wee goe astray in to the right way againe If an earthly father should tell openly his childrens faults abroad but never at home mention them unto them hee would be and justly too greatly condemned for it Then how much more is Mr. Paget to be discommended that did not endeavour to make his people to see their faults untill they did see them out in print under his hand Hee can teach us that it is our duety to advertise him of his defects and neglects in private but it seemes hee takes not the care which he should Pag. 94. to practise his owne doctrine The which thing makes his case the worse for to him that knoweth to doe good Iam. 4. ult and doth it not to him it is sinne That is his offence is the greater and answerable to it without true repentance will his punishment be Luk. 12.47 Our dealing with him hath bene otherwise for wee brought nothing forth publikely against him before wee had used other meanes for his recovery Yea till wee found the wound incurable Mich. 1.9 he in his courses incorrigible so farre I say from giving us any hope of amendement as that hee deprived us quite of all power to meddle any further with him and answered us not much unlike the old Iewes Ier. 2.25 I have loved strangers and after them I will goe I know in pag. 15. hee beareth the Reader in hand as if wee had not shewed his sinnes unto him out of the Word of God and hence abuseth a saying in Iob. But many can testify the contrary to wit that his sinnes have bene shewed to him out of the word of God I say many times by many persons not Brethren onely but our Elders too privately and openly as is to be seene in the Records of our Church where they doe protest both against his doeings and the Classis also But saith hee I am not convinced of my errour So may any offendor say although his lies and vanities should be never so soundly refuted It is reported of one Anaxagoras that hee affirmed that the snow was black and when it was alledged that the sence the eye the sight judged it to be white hee answered it did not as much as seeme white to him Cic. in Lucull Aca. Quaest l. 4. because hee knew that the water of which it was concealed is black Men might say what they list against him but they could not satisfy him nor solve his reason If Mr. Paget were not overmuch conceited touching his opinions in question I am perswaded hee would leave them For sufficient hath bene said for his conviction therein 2. For my gooing to the Assembly of the Remonstrants It is true I have bene there and Mr. Paget afterwards had a little speach with me about it But no word of God to my remembrance did hee then alledge to convince * Act. 18. ult 2 Tim. 3.16.17 my conscience of the unlawfullnes of the thing Moreover hee should have done well to have told his Readers what my answer was at the same time unto him I spake as hee knowes to this effect If I goe astroy it is through your occasion in casting stumbling blocks * Mat. 18.6 dayly in my way so many and great that my spirits is even broken within me For your caraiges are so evill against us in seeking to hinder us from the benefit of good Ministers that I cannot live under yours with any comfort What reliefe my poore distressed soule then had of him I shall never forget For I may say and that truely as Iob did in the like case hee was a miserable comforter a Physician of no value Iob 16.2.5 The mooving of his lips was so farre from asswaging my grief that on the contrary hee heaped up words against me to encrease mine affliction In the reading of this accusation it comes to my mind what I have sometimes seene in the Country where I lived viz. many poore sheepe even forced to runne into deserts hedges briars through the impatience rage of some feirce froward Shepheards either in setting their dogs on them or running in themselves furiously amongst them the which folly and indiscretion had they not shewed none of their flocke would have gone astray The application of this I referre to Mr. Paget Let him consider of it take advise and speake his mind and if hee please compare with it Ierem. 23.1 3. If to resort to the Assembly of the Remonstrants be so heynous an offence before the Lord that it deserveth as hee saith the Censure of the Church how then comes it to passe that hee deales in this thing so badly with others Hee is a member of the Classis and hath therein according to his owne doctrine equall authority with the rest over the Dutch Church here in Amsterdam Now it is well knowne to him and such as sitt with him that many of the Dutch members doe resort frequently unto the Assembly of the Remonstrants Notwithstanding doth Mr. Paget tell them of their great wickednesse exhort his fellow Presbyters to admonish them for it and to cut them of from the Church except they repent The truth is as farre as I can understand hee is quite dumbe this way and stirres not at all in it and therefore it is certaine that that which hee here brings in against me is either done out of some disaffection unto my person or els hee shewes great impartiality to say the best of it But it seemes hee is not carefull to have his ministery like a glasse in which all may behold their sports but rather to the spiders web which holdeth the lesser Flyes but lets the greater passe through at their pleasure And here I may well returne backe unto him Arrow against separ pag. 323. liu 31 his owne words having taxed Mr. Ainsworth for partialitie Let all men of conscience iudge what sincerity there is in your course Thus hee can take occasion to blame another and yet fall fouler himself into the same fault 4. Whereas hee intimateth that hee in the name of the Eldership hath admonished me for the open violation of the Sabbath I desire the Reader to take knowledge that no such thing was ever done by him neither did I know that either hee or the Elders had any such thing against me
Hereticks and wicked persons loosing the penetent the election and ordination of Ministers and the deposition of them againe for just cause Mr. Brightman * On Rev. ch 12. pag. 505. 506. comes Lower downe even unto Constantines time and is of opinion that the primitive puritie of Church Gouvernment was not yet defloured with the dregges of mans invention Neither had Satan brought in Prelaticall pride into the sheep fould of the Lord but the Pastours looked every one to the health of his owne Flocke Hence it appeares that for the space of 200 or 300 yeares after Chrlst * See Mr. Iacob necess Reform pag. 57. c. every visible Church had power to exercise Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment and all other Gods spirituall ordinances the meanes of salvation in and for it self immediately from Christ And this is a thing so certainly true as I thinke Mr. Paget himself will not haue the face to deny it What authoritie then to use anothers * B. Bilson agai Semin p. 221. speach had others after the Apostles death to change the Apostolike Gouvernment But seeing they haue done it what must wee doe Thus leave their inventions and returne backe to the Churches of the Apostolique institution and from them take our patterne and platforme to walke by and thus God teacheth a Eze. 20.18 Exod. 23.2 Mat. 15.24 c. us to doe and learned men also viz. Arnobius b Lib. 2. con Gent. Ignatius c Epist. ad Philadil Iulianus d De Bapt. Heret B. Iewel e Defe Apol. 6. pa. c. 16. div 2. pag. 762. D. Rainolds f Confer 195.459 and others But to goe foreward with our witnesses From these let us ascend to the very first worthies who haue brought us a great part of the light of the Gospel in this later age Zwinglius ‡ Hee was no Lutheran and Luther The first sayth thus * Ad Valen. Comp. Excommunication is not in the Bishops gathered together in a Synod but the right and power thereof is in the Congregation And therefore according to Christs commaundement in Mat. 18. Offenders ought to be brought to the Church whereof they are members ‡ Art 31. Explat Epichirisis de Canon Miss and being obstinate by the Church the Pastour pronouncing the sentence are to be cut off Againe concerning calling to the Ministery hee sayth ‡ Ecclesiastes The right of election is in the whole Church Mr. Luther another excellent witnes of Christ affirmes * Tom. 2. pag. 374. that the Church hath the right and power to judge of any doctrine also of calling the Ministers of the Gospell or if they cease to be faithfull to depose them But is not this contrary to Mr. Pagets new opinion yea altogether For though a Congregation should haue just cause to put downe some Officers notwithstanding by his grounds if they appeale unto Ministers of other Churches and they judge them fit to continue in their places then must they be left alone how vile soever they are so that to speake the truth the power which hee alloweth unto particular Congregations is just nothing Chemnitius another famous man and of rare learning among the followers of Luther is herein with us likewise for hee testifyeth that election * Exam. par pag. 226. 227. 228. Harm in Mat. 18.17 excommunication examination of sentences ‡ Exa Con. Trid. part 1. p. 3. c. belong unto the whole Church Againe observe what hee attributeth in another place to the Congregation what to the guides thereof To the first power * Exam. c. 6. to the later the administration of it Melancton * Loc. com tit de reg Christ hath the like distinction I could here mention many others of them which consent with us fully as Sarcerius a In Mat. 18. Brentius b Exeges in Ioh. 12.23 D. Rungius c In 1. Cor. 5.3.4 Hunnius d In Mat. 16. Osiander e Harm in Mat. 18.17 Salneccer f In Act. 6. Pelargus g In Act. 6. 14. D. Mylius h In 1. Cor 5 Hegendorphin i In Act. 14. c. none of these hold as Mr. Paget that particular visible Churches are noun-adjectives cannot stand without Classes and Synods but on the other side they grant them I mean to the Eldership and Brethren right and power to practise in and among themselves all Gods ordinances For those now whom for distinction sake wee name Calvinists these men I take it are the multitude of Godly and learned Ministers which doe as hee sayth agree in judgement and practise with him Now before I come to lay downe their particular allegations touching our point in controversy This I desire may be observed that it cannot be manifested as I am perswaded that there is among them all one Authour which hath in his Commentaries on the Scriptures taught the doctrine maintained by Mr. Paget here against us It is true some of them grant to the Eldership greatest authority others to the body of the Congregation Notwithstanding none haue bene so erronious as to say that the whole Church I meane Officers and Brethren wants authority to performe in and for it self all Church-services Now for the Authours Peter Martyr a Class ch 5. sect 9. in his common places making the Church a Monarchy in respect of Christ an Aristocracy in respect of the Elders addeth also that because there are matters of great weight and importance referred unto the people as excommunication absolution choosing of Ministers and the like it hath also a consideration of a popular gouvernment Of the same judgement was Iunius b Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. The whole Church sayth hee ought to chuse that is the body consisting of the Eldership and people by equall and common voyces This is the right manner of choosing Ministers With them joynes Musculus c Com. Pl. elect Mini. Viret d Groung Relg l. 3. ch 1. Bullinger e Decat 5.4 Danaeus f In Tim. 5.22 Gualter g Hom. in Act. 13.2 13.22 Sybrandus h Respons ad Hug. p. 159 D. Mornaeus i Hist pa. 542. c. Morell k Tom. 4. fol. 534. Tilenus l Respons ad Com. La Vat. Qu. 8. Epist 14 c. all these I say doe directly affirme the same thing viz. that all particular visible Churches haue full power to ordaine and chuse among themselves fit Ministers Neither can it be gathered to my knowledge anywhere in their writing that unto a full and complete calling of Church Officers any more Ecclesiasticall authority and power is required then that which Christ hath set in every Congregation distinctly and apart To the same purpose they write about excommunication and the absolution or the reconciliation of the excommunicate those are actions they say common to the whole Church and not of any private person or persons Bastingius
owne blood This hee cannot indure this hee cannot read with patience against this hee proclames open warre gibes often at it and reproacheth every one that sincerely embraceth the same But let him take heed least for calling good evill Chap. 5.20 God bring not the woe in Esai upon his head As for the unreverend terme it self which hee giveth unto Christs instuution we weigh it not neither are we any more discouraged from the holding of it fast then were our fathers of elder time discouraged from embracing the Gospell Act. 28.22 24.5 1 Cor. 1.23 Act. 24.14 because the enimies of it called it schisme faction folishnes heresie c. It is reported of one Theodotius having denyed Christ that hee might not be blamed for it taught that Christ was meere man and not God So Mr. Paget in the case of Church gouvernment that his owne and other mens faults may not be seene in not using or submitting to it doth labour what hee can to discredit the same But whether the power which wee stand for be schismaticall or his Apostaticall I hope by this Treatise the Reader shall be able to judge 4. Hee saith I have bene injurious unto him in spreading abâ—oad so many untruths against him as are before noted Answ 1. I had a just cause to doe what I did both for the truth sake and his owne too For first if every good subject be bound to his power to maintaine the temporall rights and Lawes of Princes whether it be by discovering of treason suppressing rebellion or the like Then much more ought all Christs subjects to doe what they can Rev. 2.25 to preserve the good estate of his spirituall Kingdome Againe who will not draw his brother out of a deepe pit or well if hee see any way or meanes for it The truth is Mr. Paget through Satan and his owne lust is fallen into many great sinnes and therefore out of Christian compassion to his soule I published the booke being confident if there be any farther course to be taken by me for his recovery this is it because now questionles hee shall see if hee will be contended to open his eyes his errours soundly and effectually refuted 2. Whereas hee saith our writings are untruths I say hee speakes untruely in it for there is nothing set downe there but will be prooved as in part I shall doe in this treatise and more I understand is shortly to come forth Besides I doubt not but Mr. Davenport will doe the like so farre as the thing concerneth him 3. Howsoever hee hath made a large discours in his owne justification notwithstanding hee hath not cleared himself at all in the maine things laid to his charge viz. promiscuous Baptisme and the authority of the Classis Yet hee knowes untill hee proove these two points to be lawfull our whole writing standeth firmely and effectually against him As for the many swâ—llâ—ng 〈◊〉 used throughout his booke in his owne praise In my understanding it had beene better Prov. 27.2 if some other had done it and not his owne mouth In the Olympicks games men did not put garlands and Crownes on their owne heads but waited till others did it In truth self prayse is very unseemely Hence in derision they say Hee dwelt by bad neighbours Besides such persons usually are least credited * Ioh. 8.13 and good reason too for the greatest boasters are commonly the worst dooers * 1 Sam. 15 13. Revel 3.15 c. As the emptiest vessels make the loudest sound driest things the greatest flame so those which proclame as with sound of trumpet their owne goodnes have most times least of it That I may be the lesse offensive in my words I will here speake to Mr. Paget in his owne Pag. 61. Certainly it was a want of modesty and prudency in him to make such disputes in his owne commendation For hee hath vainely praysed himself and wrounged us 7. Pag. 10. Yea in stead of clearing himself hee is more polluted His owne tongue defileth him And therefore his glorying is not good The fift thing wherein I am injurious in his conceit is to our whole Congregation to blot the same with report of infamous contention faction c. Answ 1. As they that stirre up warre and strife Iudg. 11.13 1 King 18.18 impute the cause unto others which lyeth on themselves so dealeth Mr. Paget with me For who hath bene the cause and authour to blot our Congregation with report of infamous contention faction c. but hee chiefly For had hee contained himself within his owne bounds not plaid the Diotrephes suffered the Church to have exercised her owne due power not brought in mens devises amongst us wee had not seene and felt the shame and misery which now wee doe And that all may see whatsoever infamy our Church lyeth under that it is come principally by his meanes I desire these things may be taken into consideration 1 The abuses from time to time done to our Elders that which they jointly doe if it fall not in his line hee termeth it an unrighteous law a bone of contention a rocke of offence In his Letter given into the Consistory 11. Mar. 1632. injurious to the Magristrate destroyers of the liberty of the Church ringleaders to faction c. If they in opinion differ from him then hee makes them parties and so disableth them from judging in the case yea professeth hee will not tollerate the thing I doe let passe to speake of his taxing them for insufficiency of his procureing the Classes to censure them Pag. 18.63 how hee rejects their advise and counceill For of all these things wee shall have a fitter place hereafter This onely by the way I say how sleightly soever hee thinkes of Ruling Elders notwithstanding they have a great place in the Church of Christ such power and authority as taking the consent of the Church with them they may call the Pastour to give them an account of his doing Yea and to depose him from his ministery If there be just cause although Classes and Synods take his part Let no man thinke that this is a new doctrine for our chief Divines teach it If any one * Protestat Kings supr pag. 15. Offer Confer pag. 2. of the Ecclesiasticall Officers themselves shall sinne hee is as subiect to the Censures of the rest as any other member in the Congregation If they shall all sinne scandalously either in the execution of their office Repl. to D. Downames defen l. 2. part 2 pag. 109. Discours of Troub at Franck pag. 162. art 65 or in any other ordinarie manner then the Congregation that chose them freely hath as free power to depose them and to place others in their roome And no marvaill if Protestants write thus For the Papists ingeniously say as much The * Ferus in Act. Apost cap. 11. Church may not onely exact an account of her
Ministers but depose them and reject them altogether if they be not fitt Hence then wee see when a Congregation is injured by any of her Officers she wants not power in her self immediately from Christ to redresse it and therefore if she suffer continuall misery it is her owne fault and so deserveth the lesse pitty But to proceed 2. Hee hath made our Church to lie downe in her shame by his invective writing against many members thereof matching them many times with the vilest enimies that ever God had as Corah Pag. 2.3 and the Rebels with him the Apostates Israëlites the murderers of Christ the persecurors of the Saints and other most notorious Hereticks and blasphemers But himself unto meeke Moyses to the good Prophets yea to the Lord and Christ and to Iohn Hus the Bohemian that faithfull Martyr of Christ Againe to say nothing of the contemptible termes which hee useth * Prov. 8.8 nor of his aggravations in seeking to set Magistrates †Pag. 29.30 and Ministers * Pag. 73. and all at variance with us truely his mocking ‡ 72.100.102.103.122.151 Arrow p. 52.65 354. is intollerable In this hee is farre from that gravity which should be in a Minister of God specially in a man of his yeares sober dealing would better become him for as Paul saith such things are not seemely But in truth I find this to be his constāt practise in all his writings I would hee did once see it and consider the dishonour which hee causeth unto the Church by it The Preacher * Eccles 12.10 sought to find out acceptable words and that which was written was upright even words of truth 3. To come more particularly to his accusation why doth hee terme that which wee haue done infamous contention c. so in pag. 4. a faction in the Church I take it hee speaketh this because wee have opposed his courses if this be his meaning then I answer 1. Diotrephes might haue framed the like objection when the brethren withstood him 3. Ioh. and on as good ground too 2. Wee know that the Saints are commaunded to contend * Iude 3. Prov. 28.4 for the faith and to hold fast every ordinance of the Lord. If subjects freemen scholers c. will not loose the previleidges of their Country Cities Houses much lesse should the sonnes of God let goe any of their rights which they have in Christ 3. As for keeping peace either with him or others it must be done * Iam. 3.17 Heb. 12.14 Rom. 15.5 with holynes purity and according to Iesus Christ True it is wee may accord with him but how If wee will make our selves the servants of men and yeeld unto that which our consciences perswade us is most unlawfull It is said of Nahash the Ammonite that hee would not be at peace with the men of Iabesh Gilead 1 Sam. 11.2 unlesse hee might thrust out all their right eyes An unreasonable condition Notwithstanding I shall make it appeare unto all men in all places wheresoever this Booke shall come that Mr. Pagets Termes propounded for reconciliation with us are worse a great deale For either wee must make our selves spiritually blind in things necessary to salvation and cast off some of Christs Ordinances and practise in the place thereof humaine devises otherwise for the present there is no hope to be at union with him But as it is in the Proverbe a man may buy gould to deare even so for my part howsoever I desire from my heart to accord with him neverthelesse my care must be so to have it as that I may accord with God and have peace of conscience Now to the next supposed injury The sixt is to the Classis in defaming their gouvernment and proceedings Answ 1. If Mr. Paget had the ability to proove his bould affirmations with inevitable reasons as a speciall faculty to disgrace men by untrue reports hee would be a Disputer one of a thousand What have wee said about the Classis that hee hath any where in his Booke refuted Indeed much windy take hee useth in the thing that the Classis is ancient Pag. 71.72 other Churches stand in as much subjection to it as his This order was in these Countries before his comming over 18.66.25 The Synods have agreed that some things shall not be proceeded with without the advise of the Classis The Classicall Assembly did judge thus and a great deale more hee writes just to this purpose But the Reader shall find grapes on thornes and figgs on thistles assoone as one sound argument in his Booke to justify that power and authority which there is now exercised Notwithstanding whosoever shall read understandingly his Booke will say that hee hath not left this point unprooved out of forgetfullnes but rather of meere poverty as not having any authenticall records of the holy Ghost under the shadow whereof hee could find any shelter to shrowd his Classicall function as a Divine Ordinance 2. But to come neerer the matter whatsoever wee have said of the Classis wee stand strictly to it and are well able to proove it Two things wee have affirmed 1. That wee beleeve that gouvernment which they exercise over such Congregations unto which they stand not properly Ministers is an undue power 2. That wee have found very hard dealing at their hands For the first I shall referre the Reader to Sect. 7.8 I ouching the later if need be I thinke our Elders * They affirme that the resolution of the Classis deprived the Church of her due power 12. Nov. 1631 Answ 2. to the Classis will be witnesses for me Howsoever sure I am Mr. Hookers case cleares it sufficiently they having made an Act altogether against the liking of our Elders and Congregation that hee should not be admitted to the Pulpit of the English Church for any edification ‡ So are the words of their Act. thereof There went hereupon 40 Brethren or more to the Consistory and there shewed their great discontent against that which the Classis had done and earnestly desired their assistance Upon this two Elders two Deacons and two Brethren were sent unto the Classis to entreat them to revoake and cancill the former Act as being demaunded and given out of all due order yea before our Church had propounded him unto them or desired their consent in the thinge Further it was shewed that no man without the consent of the most of the Consistory hath power to aske the question ‡ Not because we approved of their authority but because wee knew it was in vaine to present him to them whether hee be fitt to be our Minister or not Besides wee told them that wee had not bene with the Magistrates and therefore as yet the matter belonged not to them in a word it was promised that unlesse Mr. Hooker would acknowledge their authority * Ier. 2.14 hee should not be presented to them
other then a meere begging of the question hee bringeth in the Classes and Synods for his proofe whereas hee should first have prooved that the power which they assume over many Churches is lawfull Before I come to lay downe my particular answers to it I shall entreat him in his next Booke to resolve me these few Questions 1. VVhither the Assembly mentioned in Act. 15. were a Synod or Classis 2. How it can be manifested from that place that both are divine institutions as here is affirmed 3. How hee can naturally from thence rayse this doctrine viz. excommunications and elections of Ministers are actions belonging unto Classes and Synods 4. VVhither it be Iure Divino that Ecclesiasticall Officers of many Churches are necessarily bound to determine by joint authority the cases of many particular Congregations or whither it be a thing arbitrary and left unto every mans liberty 5. Whither all such cases and controversies as are decided by many Ministers combined into Classes and Synods must so stand as that particular Congregations may not if they thinke fit reject the same and practise otherwise then hath bene there determined by joint authority I haue the more hope that Mr. Paget will give a direct answer to these questions Pag. 39. Seeing a good conscience hee sayth suffers not a man to be neutrall nor to suspend his judgement when it is desireously desired but forceth him to beare witnesse unto the truth c. To the point now I doe deny that this place Act. 15. prooveth any such thing for which it is alledged For 1. here was no combination of many Ministers of divers Churches but onely a few messengers sent from Antiochia unto the Congregation at Ierusalem about a controversy there specifyed Hence it is affirmed by many learned men * D. Bridg. pag. 1224. that as this was an assembly of one onely particular Church so it binds * D. Whita De conc Q 2 p. 6. and p. 67. onely but in a speciall or particular meeting 2. As Mr. Cartwright ‡ Refut Rhemist on the place saith Paul and Barnabas went not up to Ierusalem to submit their judgement to the judgement of the Apostles for that had diminished the authoritie of their doctrine then which there was no greater in the Word they being both infallablie directed by the Holy Ghost Onely they went up to conferre with them and for countenance of the truth in respect of men and for the stopping of the mouthes of such deceivers as pretended they were sent * Vers 24. by the Apostles In a word that no suspition might remaine in the minds of the people as if Paul in doctrine differed from the rest 3. If Ierusalem lay north-ward 200 miles from Antioch as I read * Itiner Novi Testo fol. 96. it did Surely then hee hath small reason to bring this Scripture as the ground and foundation of the Classicall Assembly yea and to tell us ‡ Pag. 88. that it is a remarkable place of Scripture to warrant the exercise of that power which wee deny And a little after This one allegation is sufficient to evince the falshood of their assertion But before you make such hasty conclusions haue a little patience to heare us to speake for our selves I pray how can you proove that the officers of these two Churches being two hundred miles asunder were combined and mett ordinarily together as the Classes doe to determine the cases of many Churches Or how doe you proove that there was any Officer at all of Antioch in Ierusalem at this time Briefly or how doe you proove that the Brethren sent from Antioch exercised authority in the Church at Ierusalem yet all this you must make good otherwise you are guilty of abusing and perverting the Scripture in affirming that the power which the Classis exerciseth was practised at Antioch and Ierusalem and by Apostolicall direction This you have spoken but it is untrue Notwithstanding had you rested in Stev Ofw. testimony your fault had bene small in comparison what it is now through your great presumtion to take God for your witnes Ier. 23.31 in a thing which hee never spake Behold saith the Lord I am against the Prophets that use their tongues and say Hee saith it 4. It is certaine Vers 12.22 De Conc. Q 8. c. 3. Qu. 3. c. 3. p. 96.97 that at Ierusalem not onely the Apostles and Elders mett together but as Luke expresseth it the Church also being interested in the thing And therefore gave sentence with the rest to the decree then made Observe what D. Whitaker replyes unto Bellarmine denying the multitude to be called It was alwayes sayth hee the practise of the Apostles in common cases to call the whole Church together and no doubt but they did so here Now there was no need to have it mentioned seeing it had bene their constant custome formerlie so to doe Mr. Parker ‡ Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 12. pag. 108.126.334 affirmes the same So the Authours of the Cent. * Cent. 1. l. 2 c. 9. p. 547.548 And it seemes in Cyprians ‡ Lib. 4. Epist. 16. time the Church was not deprived of her right herein howsoever the Papists * Bellarm. de Conc Ecc. l. 1. c. 16. pag. 39. in those dayes teach otherwise and Mr. Paget and others doe otherwise practise 5. Howsoever the Church at Antioch sent some Brethren with Paul and Barnabas unto the Church at Ierusalem notwithstanding and let it be well observed they did not this as being a dependent body and standing under another Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves For as Mr. Parker * Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 20. p. 301. 314. excellently prooves it the Church at Antioch at this time had absolute power in for her self to haue ended the controversy and might haue done it I say in respect of authority without acquainting therewith any other Congregation at all To the same purpose another sayth * D. Whita Conc. Qu. 1. c. 1. The Church of Antioch sent not to Ierusalem as being bound in duety thereto But in regard it was the chief place of Religion therefore they made choose freelie of that Congregation as knowing them to be best able to resolve the controversie True it is the Hierarchie * D. Whit. g. T. C. 3. deny this of whose opinion Mr. Paget must either be or els the Classes as they now rule must fall to the ground for any relief that this Scripture Act. 15. will yeeld unto them 6. When the Hierarchie alledge Act. 15. to proove their Diocesan and Provinciall Synods lawfull marke how they are answered by the Reformists The particular acts of the Apostles in cases alike Park Polit. Eccl. l. 3. c. 20. p. 315. 316. must alike be observed If this reason be effectuall as indeed it is against them then it is no lesse effectuall against the Classes Now I haue in part
already shewed how quite contrary their doings are unto the example in Act. 15. unto which this further may be added that the matter caried from Antioch to Ierusalem was agreed upon by the whole Church Pag. 338. and sent thither by their mutuall desire and consent And hence our Divines teach that the power of bringing things from one Congregation to another belongeth not to any one officer but to the whole Church If this be true by what word of God then doth Mr. Paget by his ‡ Thus hee is accused by our Elders in the records of our Church Oct. 6. 1631. owne authoritie and without the consent of the Consistory or any one of them cary matters to the Classis and there hee and they together undoe all that which the Elders with the Churches consent had before jointly concluded In pag. 82. after many bitter reproaches hee asketh Where is the warrant of Will Be. and the rest how proove they that I destroy the power of the Church Wee are not to seeke of good proofe for that which wee have spoken for seeing hee most unlawfully carieth our busnesses away to be determined by the Officers of other Churches in this respect hee goeth about to spoyle us utterly A little after hee demaundeth What is to be done if the Elders be in errour whither the matter should be brought to the body of the Congregation VVhy not came the word onely from the Classicall Assembly are they the people Iob 12.2 and must wisedome die with them are the Brethren all Simplicians all novices is there not a wise man among them to judge of cases Indeed it is the manner of those which inclose in their owne hands the common rights of Churches so to upbraid them and in scorne to taxe them with lightnes rudnes pride contention c. But the Spirit of God giveth a better testimony of them * Act. 24. to 42. Phil. 16.7 1 Th. 3.5.6 1 Pet. 1.7 and counteth them meet ‡ Lev. 8.23 Deut. 1.13 Act. 11.12 1 The. 5.21 1 Ioh. 3.1 both to heare and determine of matters But this sayth hee the Brownists doe VVould hee have his Readers thinke that none but they have ever done it If his intent be so then I must tell him that hee goeth about to deceive them for as I shall shew in another place this was the constāt practise of the primitive Churches viz. to have matters debated and discussed openly before the whole multitude of the Church And that hee may have something in the meane time to looke upon Hee may if hee please looke on a Booke intituled A discours of the troubles in the English Church at Franck ford where hee shall find among other Articles agreed upon by the whole Congregation these Art 62. If all the Ministers and Seniors which have authority to heare and determine c. be suspected or found parties If any appeale be made from them that then such appeale be made to the body * Marke this Mr. Paget of the Congregation the Ministers Seniors and parties accepted and that the body of the Congregation may appoine so many of the Congregation to heare and determine the said matter or matters as it shall seeme good to the Congregation Againe Art 67. If any controversy be upon the doubtfull meaning of any word or words in the Discipline that first it be referred to the Ministers or Seniors And if they cannot agree thereupon then the thing be brought and referred to the whole Congregation What sayth Mr. Paget to this I hope hee will not say they were Brownists Notwithstanding it was their practise to have matters brought unto the body of the Congregation howsoever hee speakes contemptuously of it 7. The thing then and there concluded was divine Scripture imposed upon all other Churches of the Gentiles although they had no delegates there v. 22.28 ch 16.4 8. It is observeable how Mr. Paget stumbleth at the same stone and misapplyeth the very same place of Scripture Act. 15. as they Papists * Rhemist on the place Ioh Barn in Act. 15. v. 3. Casp Vlenberg 16. caus c. 16. p. 527. have done before For thus they write Paul and Barnabas condescended to referre the whole controversie and the determination thereof to the Apostles and Ancients at Ierusalem that is to say to commit the matter to be tryed by the Heads and Bishops and their determination in Councill And indeed such application of it better serves the turne of Iesuits and Preists that seeke to set up the Popes supremacie and a Tyrannicall Hierarchie then those that desire to stand for the Rights and Previledges which Christ hath given unto his Church When I begun to read his 6 Answer I thought to have found some great matter in it because hee promised to come neerer unto the place Act. 20.28 but having well perused it my exspectation was frustrated for hee is so farre here from coming neerer the point that in my understanding hee runns quite from it All that hee saith is to this effect Men doe attend to their flock when they labour that the same may be increased Answ 1. It is true But how must this enlargement be made surely not by opening the doore of the fould to take in Lyons wolves foxes c. but such onely as by their fruites appeare outwardly at least to be the sheepe ‡ Esa 35.8 Zach 14.21 Rev. 21.27 Ioel 3.17 of Christ whereas therefore Mr. Pager bringes into the Church the children of a stranger * Ezech. 44.7 so I am told are the words in the text my meaning is refuseth not to baptise bastards the seed of the adulterer and the whoore when they are brought unto him Hee needs not glory in his number for it is not the increase of God * Col. 2.19 Ezech. 16.26 but as the Prophet sayth of whoordomes against him And I wish hee would well consider when Christ shall appeare in the brightnes of his glory and shall sit as a just Iudge at his second coming to aske a strict account of all his actions what hee will say then for this thing seeing hee is not able to alledge one precept or example for it in the whole Scripture 2. Seeing hee increaseth his flocke by baptising such infants whose parents are without How commeth it to passe that hee takes not more care afterwards of them some say * Chrisoft Tom. 1. p. 324. that children by Baptisme are made members of the visible Church and of this opinion Mr. Paget by his writing * Orels I know not for what end hee writes it here seemes to be if so me thinkes then it is hard dealing in a sheepheard to take sheep one day into his fould and presently after to cast them off take no further charge of them neither acknowledge them more for his then those which never were of his flock at all For that which is in his 7 Answer It is onely a peece of false
34. it speaketh not any thing of the thing for which hee bringeth it 3. Howsoever the Israelites met in sundry places notwithstanding they were all but one Congregation for their Synagogues were not entyre Churches of themselves but parts or members of the nationall Church And therefore the Priests and Levites wheresoever they were exercised not some acts of their Ministery unto some that were not members of their Congregation as hee injudiciously affirmeth 4. Hee doth not well to compare the nationall sheepheards in Israel unto the Ministers now under the Gospel who are bound unto particular Congregations In pag. 66. hee seekes to strengthen the authority of Classes and Synods by the Iewish politie and gouvernment Now the Papists to establish the Sea of Rome use the same argument And the truth is if M r Paget intend to dispute this way they will cary it quite away from him But I thinke hee will hereafter be more considerate and speake no further of that manner and forme of Church gouvernment seeing hee knowes the most learned on our side doe condemne the Papists for it viz. Iunius a Animad v. Con. 1. l. 3. c. 4. Calvin b Inst. l. 4. c. 6. Sect. 2. Cartwright c Ag. Whitg l. 2. p. 614. D. Whitaker d Cont. 4. Qu. 1. and others It is likely M r Paget would take it amisse if I should silently passe over one thing which here and before in pag. 134. hee advertiseth the Reader to take notice of and that is that Mr. Ainsworth hath formerly brought against him these Scriptures viz. Act. 20.28 1. Pet. 5.2 But have none saving the Separatists alledged them to the like purpose as Mr. Davenport here doth indeed so hee insinuateth Now whither hee speake this as hee is perswaded or of purpose to deceive I will not determine neither will I presse him for resolution unlesse hee please But this I say the learned doe bring these allegations to the like purpose as Mr. Davenport here useth them that is to proove that ordinary Bishops * Repl. to D. Down Defen l. 2. part 2. pag. 141. and Elders are restrained and tyed to the oversight of one onely Congregation Peter sayth Mr. Cartwrith * Ag. Whitg ◠1 pag. 67.1 Pet. 5.2 Act. 20.28 willeth the Pastours of the Churches that they should feed the Flockes What Flockes Not everie one but those which are committed to their faith and trust or which dependeth upon them And so Paul speaking to the Ministers or Bishops of Ephesus willeth them that they should take heed unto the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them over-seers where hee restraineth as Peter did their oversight and watch to their owne particular Flock ‡ Eccl. Gouv p. 31. Defe of Discipl ag D. Br. pag. 46. A Pastour sayth another * must be limited to one onely Congregation And as hee is ordained to the attendance and service thereof so must hee there exercise and execute that office unto which hee is appointed Hee that desireth further satisfaction let him read Cartwrith Grounds of Relig. chap. 52. pag. 305 Polan Syntag. l. 7. cap. 11. pag. 535. D. Whitaker de Rom. Pont. cont 4. Quaest 1. pag. 11.12.13 Necessity of Discipl pag. 38. Refutat Doctor Downames lib. 2. Sermon part 2. pag. 26.70.79 Mr. Paget granteth that Pastours are required in Act. 20.28 and 1. Pet. 5.2 to exercise their Ministery in their owne Congregation Notwithstanding saith hee this prooves not but they may doe the like in other neighbour Churches I have already in part shewed the daungerousnes of this kind of reasoning in truth it doth not onely unclaspe the arguments which our Divines haue alledged against Hereticks but also it is a notable ground devised for Atheists and blasphemers to gather a number of most wicked positions by it For example to proove that wee must direct our prayers to God onely our Writers * Perk. 3 vo p. 121. Smith Essex Deue p. 15. Wischart pag. 16. alledge Mat. 6.9 When yee pray say Our Father c. But what may Papists reply hereunto If they will take their lesson out of Mr. Pagets Booke thus That wee are to direct our prayers to God wee grant Howbeit this place prooves not but wee may pray also to Angels in Heaven to Saints departed to any Image of wood and stone whatsoever Againe to refute their fiction of purgatory the Learned ‡ Pola Synt. l. 7. c. 24. p. 551. and his Symp. Cath. c. 29. th 1.2 Gerha Har. Hist. p. 183 Chem. Har. Hist c. 122. p. 1750. Pet. Mart. Loc. com Class 7. c. 9. p. 619. Alsted The. Polem pa. 4 pag. 369. Perk. 3. Vol. p. 227. on Mat. 7.12 cite Luk. 16.22.23 and 23.43 Mat. 7.13 where wee find mention made of a Heaven a Hell a streaght-gate a narrow-gate But if his doctrine be sound they may easily put this by and say we grant that these Scriptures proove there is a Heaven and a Hell c. notwithstanding there may be a third place too as wee hold for ought is here sayd to the contrary To be short wee read in Genesis that God in the beginning made the world Adam maried Eve c. now let this be granted yet according to his manner of disputing that may be true too which the Iewes fable to wit that many lesser worlds were made before that Adam had another wife besides Eve named Lillith * Bran. Spiegel printed at Craconia 1597. Ben Sirach Quaest 60. from whom hee was divorsed for her pride I could multiply instances in this kind to shew that there is not an errour so grosse and vile but it may be justifyed this same way and as well too which hee hath here devised to maintaine that Pastours may exercise all acts of their Ministerie in any Congregation besides their owne Hee tels us in pag. 89. that by our speeches wee doe exceedingly gratify many sorts of Libertines Arrians Socinians and other Hereticks But the truth is if hee looke well on his owne writing hee shall see the thing charged upon us most true in himself for besides the former instances marke how the Papists argue Caes Baron Tom. 1. p. 137. just as hee doth Although there be mention made in Scripture but of 3 Church Officers that is Bishops Elders and Deacons yet there were more c. Object But what if need require that a Pastour should administer the Sacraments Pag. 134. both of Baptisme and the Lords Supper in neighbour Churches that are destitute and hee is desired thereunto Answ 1. There is no precept nor example in the Scriptures to proove that such a thing should be desired Good minds must use good meanes also otherwise they please not God Obedience is better then sacrifice 2. I reason thus Whosoever rightly administreth the Sacraments must doe it by vertue of a Ministeriall calling But no man can administer the Sacraments by vertue of a Ministeriall calling saving in his owne
Testimonies I doubt not but to make it manifest that as the Scriptures so they are also with us and so much shall be declared in the next Section SECTION VIII THe allegations of the Learned which I purpose here to set downe shall be taken 1. From Papists 2. Lutherans 3. Calvinists 4. English Conformists 5. The Non-Conformists 6. Ancient Writers And lastly the Confession of Reformed Churches Howsoever Romes-Champions * Bellarm. de verb. Dei l. 3. c. 5. Rhem. in Mat. 18.17 1. Cor. 5.2 Aegid Topi. Conc. in Ep. Euangel p. 280. Stapl. de auth Eccl. cont Whita c. 1. c. 1. Sect. 5. will haue none now to meddle with Church-Gouvernment but Preists Bishops Prelates c. yet they doe acknowledge that in the primitive Church according to the precept of Christ in Mat. 18. offenders after the first and second admonition were brought to the whole Congregation met in one place together that is the Christians with their Bishop or Pastour and there if they continued impenitent by the consent and approbation of all they were excommunicated by the Minister * Sculting Hier. Anar l. 11. p. 134 Marke I pray thee Reader the marvelous efficacy of the truth which forceth a testimony thereof even from them that are to it the greatest enimies It is here acknowledged as the truth is the right of Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment at first was in the body of every particular Congregation there lay the due power I doe not say chiefly but wholy so that what spirituall power is now assumed above this whither it be Papall or Episcopall whither it be Classicall or Synodall they are humane ordinances and apparent violation of a divine institution Others of them speake * Saravia cont Bez. pag. 62. Schol. Paris in Pol p. 6. as plaine All Ecclesiasticall authority primarily properlie and essentiallie belongeth to the Church to the Officers instrumentallie Ministerially and so farre onely as it respecteth the execution of it Here is nothing sayd to justify Ministers in taking more authoritie to themselves then they grant their congregations but a testimony to the contrary For what they doe is onely Ministerially as the servants of the Church and therefore a most unseemelie thing without the Churches fore knowledge liking and consent to make acts or decrees but more to bind men to the keeping thereof whither they will or no. To these wee will adde Alphonsus a L. 2. c. 24. de inst Har. de Costro and Franciscus Victoria b In relect de potest Eccl. Qu. 2. the Maister of Canus both these affirme that all Bishops doe receive jurisdiction and power immediately from God If so then one needs not to seeke anothers authority for every one in his owne Church may lawfully administer all Gods ordinances whither others otherwhere doe like or not Thus God who brought light out of darkcnes ordered these mens tongues to give witnes unto his truth Neither may Cusanus * De concor Cathol l. 1. c. 11. c. 14.15.16 words be unremembred who speaking on this place To thee will I give the kees sayth this promise of Christ must be referred unto the whole Church Sanders ‡ De visib Mon. l. 1. c 6. Scultingius * Hierarch Anarch l. 4. pag. 103. and others of them give the same exposition viz. that when Christ promised Peter the kees hee in person presented the bodie of the Church According to these mens writing the power of binding and loosing election of Ministers deposition and the like is in the bodie of the Congregation if so then Classes and Synods have it not I mean of right Iohn Ferus a Frier of S. Francis Order but godlier then the ‡ Such as Bucanan describeth in his Franciscanus common sort intreating in his Commentaries writen on the Actes of the example of Peter how hee was required to render a reason of that which hee had done maketh this note upon it Peter the Apostle and chiefe of the Apostles is constrained to give an account to the Church neither doth hee disdaine it because hee knew himself not to be a Lord but a Minister of the Church The Church is the Spouse of Christ and Lady of the House Peter a Servant and Minister wherefore the Church may not onely exact an account of her Ministers but also depose them and reject them altogether if they be not fit So did they in old time verie often But wicked Bishops now will not be reprooved no not of the Church nor be ordered by it as though they were Lords not Mlnisters * Fer. in Act. 11. What can be more for us then this For hee absolutely grants us the thing which wee stand for that is that the Church is above her Officers and therefore may require when there is just occasion a strict account of their actions Yea more if she find them unfaithfull whether it be in carying themselves more like Lords then servants or in stead of executing the degrees and sentences of the Church devise Lawes against her or in stead of maintaining her right freedom and priviledges seeke to bring her into bondage she may put them downe and place better in their roome But it seemes by Mr. Pagets question in pag. 82. if hee had bene in Peters place hee would not have had his matter debated and discussed openlie before the whole multitude of the Church notwithstanding I cannot see how hee could haue avoyded it seeing there was then no Classes for him to haue made his appeale unto I could here produce others of them viz. Gratian a Caus 11. p. 3. 6. Gregorie b Lib. 4. Epist 8.2 P. Aeneas Silvias c De gest Conc. Basil lib. 1. Pope Anacletus d Dist 21. c. in nov Test Sixtus Senensis e Bib. San. l. 8. annot 171. Thomas of Aquine f In 4 sent dist 2.4 qu. 3. art 2. Alexander of Ales g Sum. Theo. part 4 qu. 20. me 5.6 Iohn Scott h In Magist sent l. 4. dist 19. art 1. c. some affirming that the greatest authoritie is in the Church that the kees were given to all the Apostles others that all Bishops are equall in power and the like But wee will leave these men and come to more authenticke witnesses It is affirmed by the Centuries of Meydenburg that from Christs ascension unto Trajans * Cent. 1. c. 4. Cent. 6.7 Col. 591. time which is about a 100 yeares everie particular Church was gouverned by the Bishops Elders and Deacons of the same Moreover describing the state of Christian Churches from Trajans * Cent. 2. c. 7. p. 134. 135. raigne unto Severus that is from the yeare of Christ 100 to 195 thus they write If any read the approoved Authours of this age hee shall see that the order of Gouvernment was popular for all Churches had equall power of teaching purelie the Word of God administration of the Sacraments excommunication of
* Catechism Quaest 85. speaking of the difference betweene the two kees that of preaching and the other of discipline placeth it in this that the former which is the preaching of the Gospell is committed to the Ministers the other because it appertaineth to the Discipline of excommunication is permitted to the whole Church To him wee will adde Ursinus * Catech. p. 799.800 print at Oxford An. 1587. who teacheth thus Christ in these words Mat. 18.17 If hee refuse to heare the Church c. expresly commaundeth all whosoever being after this sort admonished by the Church will not repent to be by the common consent of the Church excommunicated untill they repent And whosoever are excommunicated they againe professing and shewing in their actions amendment are altogether in like sort received into the Church as they were exiled from it Namely by the judgement of the Elders by the consent of the Church and the authoritie of Christ and the Scripture And that denuntiation whereby one is excommunicated is not in the power of the Minister of the Church but in the power of the Church and is done in the name of the Church because this commaundement was given by Christ unto the Church For hee saith expreslie Tell the Church And of this judgement is Piscator a In 1. Cor. 5. Obs 1. Calvin b Inst 4.1.15 Paraeus c In 1. Cor. 5.5 Keckerman d System Theol. l. 3. Hermingius e In 1. Cor. 5 Tossanus f Comm. in 1. Cor. 5. Polanus g Synt. Theo. l. 7. c. 18. Hyperius h Comm. in 1. Cor. 5. Praedirius i In 1. Cor. 5. Munster k In Mat. 18.17 Danaeus l In Mat. 18. Oecolampadius m In Mat. 18. Beza n Annot. in 2. Thess 3.14 and others And now Mr. Paget what thinke you of these men were they not learned and Godly Ministers Reverend and judicious Divines Are they not authenticke witnesses If you confesse it then marke what followes viz. your position that particular Congregations must stand under other Ecclesiasticall authoritie out of themselves is hence condemned by a jurie of more then 24 men of your owne chusing for an errour and untruth The reason is because these affirme I say all of them that every particular Eldership with the Churches consent may lawfully proceed among themselves to the excommunicating of offenders whensoever there is necessary and just cause Neither doe they say a word that it is a Divine institution that the Ministers of one Congregation must first aske the leave and consent of other Ministers before they can lawfully administer this ordinance of God And therefore I make some question whither you haue not wronged this multitude of learned and Godly Ministers in reporting things of them to the world which they hold not And I haue the more reason thus to thinke considering what Mr. Bucer a In Mat. 16.19 and P. Martyr b In 1. Cor. 16.3.15 write two great lightes that shined sometime in England to wit that Ecclesiasticall power and government is in the whole Church but the authority onely of administration thereof is the Presbyterie and Bishops So as in old time at Rome the power was in the people direction in the Senate But of this sort of testimonies enought is spoken wee come therefore now to the next Touching the English Conformists the formablest of them are for us in this point B. Whitgift a In his defenc ag T.C. p. 180 182. confesseth that in the Apostles time the state of the Church was popular And two pages after I call it popular saith hee because the Church had interest almost in every thing VVith him D. Bilson b Perpet Gouvernm c. 15 p. 361 agrees and writeth thus In the primitive Church the people did propose name elect and decree as well as the Clergie and though the Presbyterers had more skill to judge Yet the people had as much right to chuse their Pastour and if they most of them did agree they did cary it away from the other Againe * chap. 7. pag. 90. Marke well sayth hee the ordaining of the first Deacons they were chosen by the people Mr. Paget in pag. 22. doth acknowledge that Christ hath appointed but one order for the choose both of Pastour and Deacon As hee speakes there the truth so by it hee quite overthrowes his owne cause for if Pastours must be chosen the same way that Deacons are and they if the Apostles precept be kept chosen by the free consent of the Congregation wherein they are to administer then how comes it to passe that Classes and Synods should haue more authority then the people and may if they will disanull whatsoever the others doe herein I know what the Papists and Hierarchy say to justify their taking away from particular Congregations their due power and setting up a superiour one in the roome thereof The first gives this for a reason * Sculting Hierarch Anacr l. 11 pag. 134. The unrulines of the people deserved afterwards to have their liberty taken away The others say thus Why doe ye call us back to the primitive Church As if wee are to be tyed to the first beginnings of things as if ye would bind little infants in their blankets with swalding bondes And as if it were not lawfull for us to change those primitive rudiments which were not then so proffitable in their first originall as they seeme to be pernicious at this day Againe * Apolog. for Church Gouvernm pag. 81. There was some thing ordained by the Apostles that is no lesse hurtfull for our Churches then it was behoofull for those to whom it was appointed Which of these two arguments hee will make use off I yet know not One of them I suppose hee will and must For to say that this superiour power of Classes and Synods is Iure Divino I thinke hee will not any more doe it There being in the Scriptures no proofe yea I may boldly say nor shew of any proofe for it But because I know not what his answer shall be I will therefore say no more for this time onely I thinke it good to put him in mind of what Gerson * De Vit. spirit writeth the authoritie of the primitive Church is above all Churches and therefore it is not in the power of Pope Councill or Church to change the Doctrines and Traditions delivered by the Apostles And so I proceed To these wee will adde 4 more conformable Doctors of England viz. Whitaker Bell Willer and Taylor The first affirmeth * De Conc. qu. 5. p. 178 that Ecclesiasticall authoritie principallie primarilie and essencially belongeth to the whole Church unto Bishops onely accidentally and secondarily So againe ‡ De Rom. Pont. cont 4 qu. 4. c. 3. pag. 562. The chiefe judgement in all criminall cases is the Churches Bell sayth * Regiment of the Church ch
nor spared not with the gunpowder of his fiery contention and reproaches to blow up with us a multitude of Godly and learned Ministers being of the same iudgement Howsoever I haue mentioned already some testimonies of the most ancient times after the Apostles downeward even while any soundnes of the Gospel did shew it self in the world Notwithstanding that this right and due power of the Church for which wee stand may not be thought a Noveltie as Mr. Paget jestingly intimates and so unbeseeming Christians to embrace it I haue thought it convenient to write some thing further herein that is to shew that the best approoved Authours after the Apostles are directly with us in this thing also affirming that every particular visible Church of Christ hath power to exercise Ecclesiasticall gouvernment and all other Gods spirituall ordinances in and for it self immediately from Christ And this God willing I will doe in order according to the times in which they lived To begin first with Ignatius who was as some ‡ thinke Euseb l. 3. c. 22. Pastour of the Church at Antioch in his writings wee find it manifested that it was then * Anno 90. the manner of visible Churches to come together in one place * Ad Philadelp ad Magnes a Trall to worship God having Bishops Elders and Deacons unto their Officers whom the people freely choose by voyces or lifting up of hands Is it not hence apparent that Congregations in this age were free and could exercise among themselves all Gods ordinances Tertullian relating the manner of Christian Assemblies in his time * Anno 200 sayth * Tertull. Apol. c. 29. They came together into one Congregation for to pray unto God for to reherse the Divine Scriptures and with holy Words to nourish faith stirre up hope and fasten confidence And they used exhortations reproofes and divine Censure Origen * In Iosu Hom. 7. Anno 225. writes much to the same purpose Such as were brought in the third place for sinne unto the Congregation if they stood obstinate by the iudgement of the whole Church were excommunicated from the body the Elders of the Church pronouncing the sentence Observe here hee sayth not that the matter was caried to a Classis and there first determined c. but names onely the Congregation and Elders thereof notwithstanding had there bene any such superiour judicatorie Assembly is it likely hee would haue omitted it and mentioned a subordinate and inferiour one Cyprian Bishop of Carthage * Anno 225 Cypr. l. 3. Epist. 14. 10. sheweth how causes were not handled before the Elders but the whole multitude without whose consent also no thing was done And speaking of calling to the Ministery hee sayth * Li. 1. Ep. 4 the people have power principallie to chuse worthy Ministers and refuse unworthy ones VVhat can be more full and absolute to our purpose then this Eusebius a Anno 305 testifyeth that the Churches of the most famous Cities were in their constitution first but one ordinary constant Congregation as Ierusalem b Eus l. 3.11 Ephesus c L. 3.28 Alexandria d 3.13 Hierapolis e 4.1 Corinth f 3.32 Sardis g 4.22 c. This being so then it followes that primitively they were independent and stood not under any other Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves Athanasius often sayth that * Anno 330 Epist in pers ad Orthodox Eist ad Soli. vit dege Epist conâ— Nicae c. 9. Eccl. Hist elections excommunications c. according to the Apostles precept ought to be done in the publicke Congregation by the Ministers they taking first the peoples voyce or consent To these wee will adde Epiphanius Ierome Ambrose Cyrill Hillarie and Greg. Nazienzen writers in one age * Anno 380 Touching Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment these to this purpose speake Particular Churches may lawfully ordaine their owne Bishops without other Presbyters assisting them h Epiph conc Haer. 73. and among themselves excommunicate offenders i Id. l. 1. Haeres 30. To. 2. haer 5 In every Congregation there ought to be a Senate or Assembly of Elders k Ieron ad Gal. qu. 10. The power of chusing them is in the people l Ad Rustic Hill ad Const Augu. Ciril in Ioh. 20.21 these with spirituall bridles order men m Amb. Off. l. 1. c. 1. Naziaâ—z in Orat. fâ—r de patr c. VVhat more certaine then that the thing for which wee stand is here justified by all these Ancients They haue not writen dishonorably of the Churches of God sought to disable them from practising Christs ordinances subjected them to other Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves But contrary wise acknowledged as the truth is that every particular CongregatioÌ„ hath an intyre jurisdiction within it self and so power liberty to chuse her owne Officers excommunicate offenders and the like I say without the approbation of Classis yea against it if there be just cause There are others besides which beare witnes to this truth viz. Augustine a Li. 1. c. 17 de doct Chr. Chrisostome b De Sacerd. l 3. c. 4. Basil c In Constit. Monach. l. 4.14 6.2 7. c. 35. Socrates d Lib. de Offic. Isidorus e Ad Eugen. Bernard f Conci Cart. 3. Can. 22. Nicen. Conc. 330. Concil Constantinop Anno 682. c. Moreover some Councells haue granted so much and Christian Emperours ‡ Distinct. 61. cap. Sacror Codex de Episco l. 38. 29. by their Lawes confirmed it Of all which it may be another time wee shall haue occasion to speake more fully Touching Reformed Churches If wee may take the Confession of their faith for testimony then surely wee haue their consent also with us The Confession of the Bohemian Churches * Harm Conf. ch 14 hath these words The keyes that is Ecclesiasticall Gouvernment are given in trust and graunted to the Pastours and to each severall Ecclesiasticall Societie that is ordinary Congregation whither they be small or great To this the Churches under the Palsgrave ‡ Publicke Catechism in the end of part 2. likewise consented For election of Ministers the Helvetian * Art 16.17 Confession sayth It is right when it is done by the Churches voyce giving and the laying on of hands of the Minister The Confession of the French * Art 30. Churches is the same so Auspurge ‡ Art 14. Also the publicke order set forth in these Low-Countries * Art 31. accordeth therewith The Synod of Middelburgh * 1581. hath these words Let the election of Ministers be in the power of the Church and let it be done by voyces publickely in the Temple The Synod of Tilleburgh in Nasovia determined the like as Zepperus * Polit. Eccl. in fine writeth There is extant a publicke order published in Middelburgh Anno 1602. agreeing with all the former