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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77729	An answer to those questions propounded by the Parliament to the Assembly of Divines, touching jus divinum in matter of church-government. Wherein is clearly proved from Scripture, that the Presbyterial government is jure devino, of divine institution, and according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ. Licensed, and published according to order.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1646 (1646)	Wing B526A; Thomason E340_29; ESTC R38569	17,260	20

AN ANSWER To those QVESTIONS Propounded by the PARLIAMENT TO THE Assembly of Divines Touching JVS DIVINVM In matter of Church-Government Wherein is clearly proved from Scripture That the Presbyterial Government is Jure Divino of Divine Institution and according to the will and appointment of JESUS CHRIST Act. 14.23 When they had Ordained them Elders in every Church and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed Acts 5.38 39 43. And now I say unto you refrain from those men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found to fight against God And to him they all agreed c. Licensed and Published according to Order London Printed for WILLIAM LEY and are are to be sold at his shop at Pauls Chain neer Doctors Commons 1646. An Answer to those questions propounded by the Parliament to the Assembly of Divines LEst it should be thought presumption in any to undertake this work that are not of the Assembly who alone were appointed for it therefore I thought it needful to shew the Reader the Grounds and Reasons that moved me to it First it hath been long expected that the Assembly should give in their Answer and because it is not many of the Presbyterians are disheartned Secondly It hath caused others to contemn them saying The Assembly have now a Bone to pick Thirdly It hath caused many to turn to the Error of Erastus witnesse the late Petition to the Parliament Fourthly I am confident Gods people will rejoyce by whomsoever this work is done For these causes I undertook it not doubting but it will give satisfastion to many and be convincing to others FIrst I shall speak a few words to the Preamble wherein it is said to be resolved by both Houses That persons guilty of Scandalous offences should be suspended from the Lords Supper when as Christ alone is the King and Master of the Feast and hath Church-Officers as his Deputies in the Church whom he hath appointed to see and judge who are worthy and who are not and to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution for if any shall presume to come not having a Wedding garment the King will say to his Servants the Ministers Binde him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22.3 12 13. Luke 14.16 17. Whatsoever ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Mat. 18.18 Iohn 20.23 But Magistrates are placed by Christ in his temporal Kingdom and are called the Ordinance of man 1 Pet. 2.13 and appointed to govern the State and also by their positive Laws they are to be as a guide to the Church and may be instruments of much good to it so far as their positive Laws may reach about it but not as ruling Officers in it as shal more fully be shewn The first Question is Whether the Parochial and Congregational Elderships appointed by Ordinance of Parliament or any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divine and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ and whether any particular Church Government be Iure Divino and what that Government is I Answer If the first of these the Parochial Congregational Eldership be understood the Vicar or Curate together with the Churchwardens and Sidemen in the Parish being all under the Prel●tical Government being neither Scripture Names nor Officers but rather Antichristian Inventions these cannot properly be called Elderships seeing the Officers bear not the name of Elders these have been proved by many to be rather Antichristian then Iure Divino and seeing the main pillars of Antichrist are tumbled down these bearing his name shall tumble down together with him and I hope they need no further Answer The next thing considerable is Whether any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ To the first of these I Answer Negatively that there is no such Church in Scripture as they call Independent or Congregational Churches and the proving of this will satisfie that there Congregational Elderships are not Jure Divine of Divine Institution nor their Churches but to be demolished as the Prelatical for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Iob 14.4 I prove the point by this Argument If there be no Church in Scripture belonging peculiarly to one man as to Peter James or John and to bear his name to be called his Church as being peculiarly by him gathered as they say into a Church-way as the Independent Churches are both named and gathered then Independent Churches are not of Divine Institution and if not their Churches much lesse their Elderships But there is no shch Church in Scripture so gathered and so named Ergo The Independent Church-way is of no Divine Institution much lesse are their Elderships Jure Divino or according to the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The major part of the Proposition I suppose all men will grant and for the minor I shall prove by taking a view of those Scripture Churches which they chiefly would have to be Independent being of the first planting first that hundred and twenty names Acts 1.15 some of them have affirmed to be an Independent Church or Congregation because say they that 120. names was made up both of men and women Acts 1.14 Therefore say they it was an Indedependent Church To this I answer Those women there mentioned were not of this company for that were before this and those men and women there spoken of was at prayer together and it is very likely the cause of it was to seek the Lord for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse which was the choyce of another Apostle in stead of Judas for in those dayes it was said That Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty and he that is Judas was numbred with us but since he by transgression fell let another take his Office wherefore of those men numbred to be an hundred and twenty together which have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us from the Baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us must one be Ordained to be a witnesse with us of his Resurrection Ver. 21 22. Hence I gather That if the hundred and twenty names was all men as Peter here affirms then it was not that company that was at Prayer before for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse in the chusing of another Apostle in stead of Judas then this was not a single Congregation but it was the Officers were then assembled in a Presbytery upon the choyce of another

order things that were wanting and to Ordain Elders in every city as he had appointed Tit. 1.5 And these were not Magistrates for such were before in every city but these were then wanting which Paul from Christ appointed Titus to Ordain in every city neither were the Ministers to Ordain and set up Magistrates and yet by their own practise they did Ordain Elders in every Church Acts 14.23 then they are not of Humane but of Divine Institution Thirdly If both the key of Doctrine and of Diselpline were given to Church Officers by Iesus Christ then they alone have a Divine Right to use them but the keys were not given to the whole Church but to the Officers for saith Christ to Peter To this will I give the Keys Mat. 16.19 And whatsoever the Church-Officers shall binde on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and what they loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Chap. 18. v. 17 18. And what sins ye remit shall be remitted and what sins ye retain shall be retained Iohn 20.23 Then they alone have a Divine Right to use them Fourthly If Christ commanded the Church to obey those that have the rule over them in the Church and not in the State then such only are to rule in the Church But saith Paul Obey them who also have spoken unto you the Word of God they that watch for your souls as they that must give an account neither must all the Saints rule in the Church for saith Paul Salute them that have the rule over you and all the Saints Heb. 13.17 24. then they are of Divine Institution and must rule in the Church and take care for it as for their own house 1 Tim. 3.4 5. 5. If the Christian Church had those Officers placed in it by Christ and his Apostles before they had any Magistrates or any humane Laws in it then they are of Divine Institution and no Magistrates ought to take that from them which Christ gave them before they had any Magistrates in the Christian Church but they chose and ordained Elders in every Church before they had any Magistrates Acts 14.23 then they are not of Humane but of Divine Institution Sixthly This Discipline was in the hand of Church-Officers if they onely were blamed if it was neglected But the Lord said to Church-Officers I have something against thee because thou sufferest that woman Iezebel to teach and to seduce my servants and others were blamed because there was some among them that held the Doctrine of Balaam Rev. 2.14 20. Then here it is plain that both the Key of Doctrine and the Key of Discipline are in the hand of Church-Officers by Divine Institution Seventhly If this Discipline was ever in the hand of Church-Officers it ought to be so still But saith Paul I have delivered Hymeneus and Alexander to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1.20 and concerning the Incestuous person he saith I have judged already and do not ye judge those that are within cast out therefore that wicked person 1 Cor. 5.3 12 13. And if any say that all must judge from this Text I Answer All are to refer it to the Presbytery but sufficient is that punishment that was inflicted by many not by all 2 Cor. 2.6 Christ gave his life a ransome for many not for all Mat. 20.28 Again saith Paul a Church-Officer He that troubleth you shall bear his judgement whoever he be Gal. 5.10 Then this may suffice to answer the first Question That the Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divine yet if any be not fully satisfied I shal yet make it more clearly appear by answering a question thus Suppose there should be any disturbance in the Church assembled for the publike Worship of God by some Drunkard or mad man or any Heretick either by Sporting or by Railing or Seducing or any abominable action where lyes the power to suppresse it Is it in the Magistrates or in Church-Officers I answer It is in the hand or power of Church-Officers first because they were charged to keep the door that there may be no such occasion of disturbance in the midst of Divine Worship 2 Chron. 26.12 19. Secondly this power was in the hand of Church-Officers for when Vzziah the King would needs burn Incense the valiant Priests bade him go out of the Sanctuary and cut him off from the house of the Lord Neither was this because he was leaprous but because he offered Incense and as they were thrusting him out his leprosie appeared 2 Chro. 26.17 18 21. and when they were weeping publikely for the abominable whoredom with the daughters of Moab there was such an action committed in the assembly in the sight of Moses mark that yet Phinehas the Priest executed justice and the wrath of the Lord was pacified Num. 25. And when Elies Sons lay with the women when they assembled at the Tabernacle door and he did not restrain them the Lord slew all his whole house and that sin could never be purged with Sacrifice 1 Sam. 2.22 and 3.13 14. Then if the Lord was so well pleased with Phine as the Priest for his justice and so offended with Eli the Priest for neglecting of it when committed in the congregation then the power to suppresse such abominations committed in the assembly is in the hand of Church-Officers Again when there was buying and selling in the Church Christ drave them out because the Lord said My house shall be called the house of Prayer Thirdly when Israel committed Idolatry not onely in private but in the Assembly the Lord caused Moses to cull out those that were on his side and sheath their Swords in those Idolaters and the Levites came forth and did so and the Lord for that very action put them into the Ministry Then it is plain the Lord would have the Church Discipline in the hand of Church-Officers they must keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution and those that do not rule well their own house are not fit to take care for the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.5 as if he should say That man that is negligent to use Family-Discipline is not fit to be made a Church-Officer lest he neglect the Church Discipline yet all this hinders not but that Magistrates may punish all manner of wickednesse in the State if their Positive Laws will reach it but not else yet I say Church-Officers are charged to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution and for that end they are placed by him in the Church by Divine Institution The Parliaments second Question is Whether all the Members of the said Elderships as Members thereof or which of them are Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ I answer as before The Independent Elderships are not of Divine Institution because their Congregations are not but all the Members of every Presbytery or Eldership they have this Discipline committed unto them for what was said to Peter was

the Eldership or Presbytery of Church-Officers bearing the name of Church they were persecuted and scattered all abroad but the Apostles and the reason why the Apostles were not scattered as yet was because they were more known at Ierusalem by doing of many Miracles then other Teachers and more convinced their Adversaries then others by their speaking all Languages and wisdom that was given to them yet it is clear by what hath been said That it was not all the people but Church-Officers that was persecuted who are frequently called the Church as hath been shewed Then here is not any footing for any Independent Congregations therefore their Eldership is not Jure Divino nor according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Then let us take another instance it may be they will say That Church was an Independent Church Acts 2.47 where it is said The Lord added unto the Church daily such as shall be saved For say they This was at the first planting of it and then they were but few for they were with one accord all in Solomons Porch Acts 5.12 But I say The Disciples were numberlesse as I have proved already and that Church that was in Solomons Porch was only the Church-Officers in a Presbytery consulting for the good of the whole multitude of Believers for mark the next words The Officers being in Solomons Porch the rest durst not joyn with them they being a Presbytery advising for the good of the whole Church only the people magnified them see Acts 5.13 Then here we may see That Church-Officers being together in a Presbytery are honored by the people but do Independents thus when they must all sit and vote with them and in stead of honoring their Church-Officers in Presbyteries and Synods they reproach them and vilifie them and call them Antichristian Governors much like Korah and his company and it is a wonder if such men should dye the common death of men But then it may be they will say That Church unto which all Christians must be added was the invisible Church I Answer That is a truth but not the true meaning of this Text and it is plain this was the Universal visible Church for when any was converted from false Religions to the true Religion they were added to the Christian visible Church as members of it and thus the Lord added daily to the visible Church in the sight of all the people then this Church could not be Independent unto which all Christians were added daily neither did any Minister gather to himself a Church but all Ministers labored to gather Christians to the multitude but not as our Independents do to their company from among other baptized Christians and exclude all the rest saying That they are all Antichristian Idolators and without the Kingly Office of Christ but his flock Then this was not an Independent Church but a Presbyterial Church consisting of many Officers and much people Again this was not an Independent Church for there were many Universal Officers in it and if yet they affirm it to be an Independent Church then I would know who had the peculiar charge of it and who bare the name of it whose work alone was it to gather it as they say into a Church-way Again if this Church did belong to one man as to Peter James or John then why must all Christians be added to Peters Church or Iames's Church or Iohns Church or else be damned Must Mr. Goodwins Members be added to Mr. Burtons Church or Mr. Lockers Members be added to Mr. Holms his Church or be damned Then in my judgement it were good to joyn Churches together betimes by Presbyteries and Synods before it be too late I say let us joyn all the visible Congregations in the Kingdom together and all to the Universal visible Church and as our duty seek the welfare of each other and this will soon split all Independent Churches who are descended from that reprobate who said Am I my Brothers keeper These men are like the Inhabitants of Laish a people that dwelt carelesse secure having no Magistrate in the Land to rule them or to put them to shame and They had no businesse with any man Iudges 18.7 But let all faithful Christians say with Paul The care of all the Churches lies upon me and rejoyce to hear the welfare of the Church in all places of the world and grieve to hear that the walls of Ierusalem are broken down and if need require with the Church of Macedonia send relief to them in Iudea and abhor to say We are Independents we have no relation to them nor they to us let them sink or swim we owe them no duty well we may counsel them and yet we may chuse and they also may chuse whether they will take it Now let all judicious Christians but judge and speak their conscience Whether Presbyterial or Independent Church Government is most agreeing to the Primitive Church and be not carelesse but helpful one to another for all those that are united to Christ are also united one to another and so have relation one to another and stand in need of the help of each other Then I conclude That Congregational Presbyterial Eldership is not according to the Word nor the Primitive Church and therefore not Iure Divino I might here speak of the Churches of Corinth Galatia Philippia and Ephesus which were all governed by Presbyteries and were none of them Independent belonging to one man bearing his name and gathered by him and he alone charged with it But this may suffice The next thing in the first Question to be proved is Whether any particular Church Government be Jure Divino and what is that Government I shall answer this by dividing the Officers in the Church from the Officers in the State and bounding them in their place and station where Christ hath set them and to prove That the one hath a Divine Right of Government from Christ in the State and not in the Church and the other hath a Divine Right of Government in the Church but not in the State I prove it thus Christ hath two Kingdoms the one Temporal and the other Spiritual In the first he rules over the Kingdoms of men as Daniel saith He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 He saith By me Kings Raign Prov. 8.15 Kings are his Deputies on Earth in this Temporal Kingdom to Rule over the State and outward affairs of men and also in relation to the Church they may be as a gard about it to defend it by the power of their Positive Laws and also they may be for much good unto it for saith the Lord Cyrus is my shepheard Isa 44. both to provide and care for the Church and defend it as a Shepheard doth his flock Kings shall minister unto it Isa 60.10 But Cyrus was not placed in the Church he was no member of it for he was a Heathen King yet he

had the full power of a King in relation to the Church and a Kings being a Christian addes nothing to him in point of Government in the Church only his own benefit as a Christian to enjoy the priviledges of it among other Christians when as Cyrus had not this benefit being a Heathen So then his power is not in the Church but about it he may by the Laws of the Land command obedience to the Church and by those Laws punish the disobedient yet not as an Officer in the Church But then Christ hath another Kingdom and that is Spiritual he saith My Kingdom is not of this world and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth the Father seeketh such to worship him Iohn 4.23 24. 18.36 For this Kingdom he hath Church Officers to govern it every member hath not the same Office Rom. 12.4 The Office of a Bishop is a good work 1 Tim. 3.1 These Christ hath placed in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 A●ron and his Sons shall wait on the Priests Office Numb 3.10 In this Kingdom the Ministers are his Shepheards and all sorts of men their flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers Acts 20.18 And they are charged to feed their flock and to care for it and saith Paul The care of all the Churches lies upon me he was no Independent they became Independents that said What portion have we in David See to thine own house David to your Tents O Israel So they departed to their Tents 1 King 12.16 But I say Church-Officers are placed by Christ in the Spiritual Kingdom the Church as Kings and Magistrates are placed by him in the State and not to stand there like cyphers to fill the place for no use but to rule in it as the other do in the State yet with this difference Frinces and Magistrates have power to make those Laws by which they Rule the State for saith Daniel The Lord hath given thee a Kingdom Dan. 2.37 And they consulted to establish a Royal Statute Dan. 6.7 He hath given the Earth to the Children of men Psal 115.16 But the Church was never so given to any no not to her Officers and Rulers they must not make Laws for it nor repeal any that are made There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Jam. 4.12 The Law of the Church is unalterable like that of the Medes and Persians Not one tittle of the Law shall fail Mat. 5. Their King is eternal and with them to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 And of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 But Kings and Magistrate are placed by Christ in the Temporal Kingdom there indeed they rule with Power and Authority but they may not rule so in the other Kingdom the Church of Christ for these Reasons First If Kings and Magistrates should rule in the Church as Emperors rule the State this were to dethrone Christ who alone is placed and set by the Lord his King upon the holy hill of Sion Psal 2.6 And what affront is done to his Officers in the Church he takes as done to himself and no man ought to usurp the Authority of Church-Officers any more then Church Officers ought to usurp the Office of Magistrates for both must keep their place where Christ hath set them Secondly If Magistrates should rule in the Church as Officers in it this would confound the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ with the Kingdoms of men when as Christ hath plainly divided them Dan. 2. Iohn 18.36 both by precept and example commanding and also giving to God the things of God and to Cesar the things of Cesar Mat. 22.21 Thirdly If State-Officers and Church-Officers were the same and he that hath one hath both then it would follow That Christ and his Apostles both did and taught rebellion in all places where they came when they set up Elders or Church Officers in every Church Acts 14.23 And when Christ expounded the Law in his own name Mat. 5. But this were Blasphemy to affirm for the Government of the Church of Christ is Spiritual and allowed by Princes and Magistrates where ever they came for they know that it did not intrench upon their Authority Fourthly Church Officers have Gods Law for their rule but Magistrates have the Laws of the Common-wealth for their rule then they must keep their places the one to rule in the Church Ministerially because Christ their King is with them Mat. 28.20 and the other in the State with Majesty and Authority because the God of Heaven hath given them a Kingdom power and glory Dan. 2.37 Fifthly Many Kings and Magistrates are not so much as Members of the Church but rather Enemies of it and if they were Members yet they were unworthy of that place to rule in the Church unlesse they were well skill'd in Divinity to rule in Religiously but this were Treason to affirm Sixthly If Kings and Magistrates had power in the Church by vertue of their place then they might obtain this power by War or by Usurpation or Purchase or by Inheritance and so women would rule in the Church that are not permitted to speak in it 1 Cor. 14.34 and children should rule in the Church when as a Bishop must not be a Novice or a yong Scholler 1 Tim. 3. and the meanest Officer in the Church must first be proved before they be admitted Vers 6.10 Lastly If Magistrates power were in the Church they must either have this power from being a Magistrate or from being a Christian but if from being a Magistrate then all Magistrates and Princes must have the like power to rule the Church as well as they or else they are not perfect Magistrates or Princes and if they should have power to rule in the Church because they are Christians then all other Christians may rule in the Church as well as they for all are one in Christ Gal 3.28 Col. 2.11 Then Church Officers together with their Names and Offices are not to be created nor appointed by the Parliament as their creatures when as themselves are not Church Officers and if they were yet they have no power to give Titles Names Offices or Officers in the Church for that is peculiar to Iesus Christ the King of his Church Eph. 4.11 and from him all Church Officers have both their Names and Offices immediatly and therefore Church-Officers are Iure Divino and that for these Reasons First If Church-Officers are placed by Christ in the Church then they are not of Humane Institution but of Divine Right but Christ hath set some in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers helps or Deacons 1 Cor. 12.28 then they being so placed by Christ in the Church they are Iure Divino Secondly If it was both the Apostles command and also their practise to set up Elders in every Church then Elders are Iure Divino of Divine Institution but Paul left Titus in Creet to set in