Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	heathen_a	let_v	publican_n	2,742	5	10.9981	5	false

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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

suspending from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper such Offenders accordingly is either in the Congregational Eldership in Presbytery or in any other Eldership Congregation or Persons And whether such powers are in them only or any of them and in which of them Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ I answer to the first part of this question That Church Officers by the perfect rule of Gods Word have power to judge and declare what sins are scandalous for which those that are guilty are to be punished by the Magistrate but in case he will not do his duty then for the same Church-Officers have power to cast them out of the Church to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution some of them Paul mentions before his Institution of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11. such as these as Drunkennesse Heresie Divisions and Contentions and men wearing long hair and women with the hair out or uncovered all these must be Reformed for these are Scandalous and then there are inward sins as Ignorance not discerning the Lords body but the communicants must examine themselves of this and so let them Eat they are not to be cast out for Ignorance all did eat the Passeover and all them in the Primitive Church did receive the Supper Acts 2.46 20.7 Neither do I finde any such thing in Scripture as suspension from one Ordinance when they freely enjoy all the rest Neither do I finde such trying and conventing as in civil Courts they are not to cast out for private sins when a private trespasse was brought to the Church Officers Matth. 18.17 they could not cast him out but said to the Plaintiff Let him be to thee as a Heathen or a Publican that is Do thou keep no company with him Church-Officers must say as the Lord did I have not found it by secret search Ier 2.34 But when they declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not Isa 3.9 As Elies Sons did to make the offerings of the Lord to be abhor'd 1 Sam. 22.17 And when Phineas the Priest slew Zimry and Cozby Numb 25. And when Uzza was cast out of the House of the Lord 2 Chron. 26.21 And Christ whipt them out of the Temple all these need no witnesse but were cast out all but Elies Sons and because Ely the Priest did not do it to his Sons the Lord utterly cut off Elies house The next thing in this question is In whose hand is this Power To this I have answered In the hand of the Presbytery or Church Officers If the person be Scandalous to many Congregations the greater Presbytery is to cast him out but if in some Country town there be but one Church and the parties haunt be no further I suppose they may cast him out of their Church and not to suffer him to abuse the Ordinances of Christ but no other hath this power neither Independent Congregations nor Prelats for Presbyterial Church-Officers are only Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The seventh question is Whether there be any certain and particular Rules expressed in the Word of God to direct the Elderships or Presbyteries Congregations or Persons or any of them in the Exercise and Execution of the Powers aforesaid and what are those Rules I answer Paul saith in the Name of all Church-Officers We will not least of things without our measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us 2 Cor. 10.13 Then here all may see that they have a Rule and he saith Let us walk by the same rule Phil. 3.16 And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be unto them Gal. 6.16 Now by this Rule Paul judged though absent that the Incestuous person should be cast out and by the same Rule the Church-Officers of Corinth cast him out 1 Cor. 5.3.12 13. And if any shall say he spake to all in the Church I answer It was to give their consent but that punishment was to be inflicted by many but not by all see the same man cast out 2 Cor. 2.6 And he cast out Hymeueus and Philetus for blasphemy yet I suppose there was others with him though he passed the sentence 1 Tim. 1.20 And saith Paul He that troubleth you with the leven of Heresie shall hear his judgement whoever he be and I have confidence in you through the Lord Jesus that you will be none otherwise minded but give your consent I would they were cut off that trouble you Gal. 5.9 10 11 12. The eighth question is this Is there any thing contained in the Word of God that the Supreme Magistracy in a Christian State may not judge and determine what are the aforesaid Notorious and Scandalous Offences and the manner of Suspension for the same and in what particulare concerning the Prenises is the said Supreme Magistracy by the Word of God excluded I answer The Supreme Magistracy is to judge and determine of the same sins by the Positive Laws of the Land and punish the Offenders according to those Laws in the Temporal Kingdom of Christ but he may not judge and determine of them in the Church about casting out by Excommunication that is the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and his Church-Officers are Spiritual Officers and therein State Officers are excluded as I shewed before The ninth question is Whether the provision of Commissioners to judge of Scandals not enumerated as they are Authorized by the Ordinance of Parliament be contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and wherein they are so contrary I answer That Christ alone is to give both Offices and Officers and also their names but Christ never gave any such for his Church as Commissioners neither must Parliaments create any Names or Offices or Officers as their creatures to be set up and appointed their work in the Church it is a great affront to Christ the King of the Church to do it It is observable David saith Christ received gifts for men Psal 68.18 And then Paul saith He gave gifts to men Eph. 4.11 So then Christ as Mediator received those gifts of his Father and then gave them to his Church but there is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Iesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Then there was none but he that received those gifts for the Church and therefore no other can give them Again the Authority of the Parliament will not bear them out when Christ will disclaim them as Vsurpers whom he never palced in the Church And what profit or blessing to the Church can be expected from those that Christ never sent nor placed in the Church Again the Parliament that sent them are themselves placed by Christ in his Temporal Kingdom the State or Common-wealth to govern that and place Officers in it but they may not Ordain Church-Officers that must be done by Church-Officers and that successively from Christ who first Ordained the Twelve and then the Seventy and then the Twelve being sent to all Nations after his death they did Ordain Elders in every Church Acts 14.23 And then they left others to Ordain Elders successively Saith Paul I left thee to Ordain Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 And so it hath been by them successively to this day Then I conclude That for State-Officers either to Ordain Elders which ought to be in the Church or to create new Officers in the Church is contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and I have shewed wherein it is so contrary The tenth and last is onely a perswasion that those of the Assembly would set down their Names together with their Votes whether Affirmative or Negative to those former particulars and the clear Texts of Scripture on which their Opinions are grounded Now none but the last concerns me which I have done and if the Lord be pleased to set it home to the soul it may be conviction and satisfaction to it FINIS

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

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