THE DOCTRINE OF Instituted Churches Explained and Proved FROM THE WORD OF GOD By Solomon Stoddard A. M. Minister of the Gospâ—… Northampton New-England LONDON Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible under the Piazâ—… Exchange in Cornhil 1700. THE DOCTRINE OF Instituted CHURCHES Explained and Proved from the WORD of GOD. CHAP. I. The Word of God gives us sufficient Light to direct us about Instituted Churches and all Administrations therein THE Nature of an Instituted Church and the Ordinances to be attended therein have been matter of great Inquiry in these latter Ages And those Inquiries have been Accompanied with great Animosities Discords and Persecutions Those forms and methods that have been admired by some have been decryed by others and Multitudes of People are left at a loss whether there be any certain Rule to Guide us or any certainty to be attained in these things Two things especially have hindred those that have been studious in these points from giving satisfaction to others One of them is that some of them have been exceeding tenacious of the Traditions and Ancient usages of the Church not considering how dismal a Corruption and Degeneracy did in a little time prevail whereby it comes to pass that those things are obtruded upon us as Rules which were the Blemishes and Errors of the Ancient Church They have a Veneration for antiquity and adopt the sayings of Ancient Fathers for Canonical The other is that some have attempted to compile a compleat Platform out of the Books of the NewTestament alone looking on all Old Testament Rules relating to Church Affairs as out of Date but if we would have a right understanding of the mind of God in these things must not be our dependance upon traditions neither must we confine our selves to one part of Scripture but search into the whole Word of God impartially It is certain that God does fully direct us in the Scripture concerning the Affairs of his House as the Word of God doth perfectly direct us how we should behave our selves in the Family and in the Common-wealth so in the Church There is no need of any Addition to the Scriptures There needs an Interpretation of the Word but nothing at all to be added to it God doth not give us some broken pieces of a Platform but hath revealed his whole will in that matter We are not left under a necessity of missing the Rule or guessing at it God hath described to us the whole Body of Church Affairs For the Scripture is a perfect Rule of Life Psal 19.7 2 Tim. 3.17,18 Men shall be blamed for nothing at the Day of Judgment but what the Scripture does Condemn Rev. 20.12 VVhat God hath not revealed to us is no Rule to us And God hath no where else revealed the Rule but in the Scripture As we have no extraordinary Prophets to reveal the mind of God So there are no unwritten traditions to make known the mind of God in this matter There be three sorts of Rules in Scripture to guide us in Church Affairs 1. General Moral Rules These Rules give us light in many Church Affairs So that Rule of Loving God and our Neighbour Mat. 22.37,38,39 So that Rule of not partaking in other Mens Sins 1 Tim. 5.22 So that Rule of Peace and Edification Rom. 14.19,20 So that Rule of doing things decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.20 So that Rule Phil. 4.8 So that Rule of Humility 1 Pet. 5.3 These Rules and such like shew us our Duty in many Cases For 1. There be many things necessary which there is no Institution about God was more particular with the Jews because the Church then was in its Infancy than he is with us So we have no institution how many Elders to have in a Church how often to Pray or Sing on the Sabbath How often to partake of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 So there is no particular institution for Moderators in Churches in case of a vacancy of Elders About Preaching without ordination About the Limits and Bounds of particular Churches There be abundance of other particulars about Fasts matters of Discipline the Age of Persons to be admitted to the Lords Supper which are to be determined by Moral Rules 2. Many things that are commanded in Church Affairs are the proper consequences of Moral Rules And so don't need an institution There be many things occasionally commanded Which do not properly belong to Divine institutions that are not Branches of the second Commandment but proper deduction from Moral Rules So that about Reconciliation to an offended Brother Matth. 5.23,24 For Christ did not now make new Jewish institutions So that about private dealing with an offending Brother Matth. 18.15,16 So those Rules 1 Tim. 5.17,19 1 Cor. 11.28 And many others are plain Moral Duties 3. Moral Rules must be attended in Church Affairs as well as in other things Rules for doing things that are for Peace Edification and for the good of our Neighbours bind in Ecclesiastical cases as well as in Civil and Domestical Therefore they are Generally Propounded Phil. 4.8 Yea there is more weight to be laid on them then on institutions Mar. 12.33 We must never Act contrary to Moral Rules Churches are bound to Moral Rules as well as other Societies We have n2o liberty in the Administration of the things of Gods House to break Moral Rules 2. Old Testament institutions A great part of Old Testament institutions are abolished All typical Laws are out of Date But some institutions that were in force then are in force now Thus Church Societies the Preaching of the Word Fasts Thanksgivings are to be attended still Consider 1. They and we are under the same Gospel there was the same way of Salvation then as now they were under a Covenant of Grace and Saved by Christ as well as we Heb. 4.2 Hence there be several things common to them and us Hence the People of God under the Old and New Testament must be such as have a visible Union to Christ they and we must have signs representing Christ 1 Cor. 10.3,4 2. The Nature of a Church is the same under both Testaments A Church is not one kind of thing in the Old Testament and another in the New But it has the same essence and definition The matter of the Church and the form is the same The Church then stood in the same relation to God was appointed for Communion with God and enjoyed his presence as now 3. There were several Ordinances in the Jewish Church that had no particular reference to the times before Christ or to any particular condition of that People And such Ordinances seem to be of force still as their having an holy Convocation Lev. 23.13 So much of the work of the Priests they were to teach the People Deut. 33.10 They were to bless the People Num. 6.23 So it was their manner in solemn Prayer and Blessing to lay on hands So Excomunication which is to continue in
the Christian Church Matth. 18.17 4. We are referred in some cases to those institutions God sends us to the Law for light directs us to do as was appointed in the Old Testament So about Womens not speaking in the Church 1 Cor. 14.34 So about the maintenance of Ministers Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.13,14 3. New Testament institutions there were some institutions appointed by Christ under the Gospel these are few principally what Officers shall be in the Church The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the first day Sabbath 1. We must distinguish between Temporal and Perpetual institutions Some institutions were only for a time as the Office of the Apostles So the anointing of the sick with Oyl Jam. 5.14 There are others that are to continue to the end of the World So is Baptism Matth. 20. The Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.26 These Ordinances will not be removed as Jewish Ceremonies Heb. 13.28 2. Distinguish between approved practises and institutions there were many practises and institutions there were many practises in the primitive times that were approved yet not binding to us The Church at Jerusalem had seven Deacons Acts 6.5 They did Baptize in private Houses Act. 10.33 Christ sent out his Disciples two and two Luk. 10.1 This doth not shew that these things were institutions that is meet to be done in one case that is not meet to be done in another One or two Examples shew the Lawfulness of a practise but do not make it a binding Rule CHAP. II. The Nature of Instituted Churches Explained THE Word Church is used Equivocally there are three senses especially wherein it is used in the Scripture First It is taken for those that are Spiritually United unto Christ the mistical Body of Christ Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a Glorious Church Secondly For that part of the World that doth profess the true faith for them that are visible Christians 1 Cor. 15.9 I persecuted the Church of God Thirdly It is taken for an Instituted Church this Church is invested by Christ with Spiritual Power and is thus defined A Church is a Society of Saints joyned togâ—ther according to the appointment of Christ for the constant carrying on of his publick Worship A Church is a Society a single Person is not a Church a Church is a Collection or Congregative Body consisting of many Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particulars hence it is compared to a flock and other Câ—…ective Bodies It is a Society of Saints The Members of a Church are Saints by calling 1 Cor. 11.12 To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 In all the Churches of the Saints the Church of the Jews was a Society of Saints Psal 79.12,11 Psal 1. None are to be Members of Instituted Churches but those that are Members of the Catholick Church Particular Churches are but parts and branches of the Catholick Church they are the Churches of God the Body of Christ the Temple of God therefore must be Holy Therefore Societies of Papists are abusively called Churches A Church doth joyn together for the Publick carrying on of the Worship of God A Family joyning together for the private carrying on of the Worship of God is not a Church we read of a Church in the House of Aquila Rom. 16.5 And in the House of Nymphas Col. 4.15 Because there the publick Worship of God was attended The Church doth joyn for the carrying on of publick Worship as the Preaching of the word the Administration of Sacraments and dispensing of Censures in a publick way A Church doth joyn together for the constant carrying on of the publick Worship of God for a Church is a Body Corporate which may continue from Generation to Generation it is not any occasional Meeting together that gives being to a Church A Church is a standing Society not depending on any occasional Meeting Therefore a Congregation that meet together on a Lecture Day from several Towns to hear the Word Preached are not a Church neither have any Ecclesiastical Power Yea a synod that meet now and then occasionally though it may be called a representative Church is not a Church properly the Members thereof are chosen for a perticular occasion A Church doth joyn together according to Christs appointment Christ has given a Rule according to which they ought to joyn together and if Men joyn in Worshiping with a Church irregularly that does not make them to be Members of that Church If a man that lives in one Town where there is a Church doth joyn constantly in worshiping with another Church that doth not make him a Member of that Church Quest VVho are visible Saints Answ This Question hath been matter of great debate and an occasion of great contention in the Church we may not count those only to be Saints who after the strictest Examination give considerable evidence that they are Saints We have no such Rule the practice of the Apostles in admitting Members into the Christian Church doth not Countenance any such Opinion neither are we to make Baptized Persons and Visible Saints to be the same for Persons must be Visible Saints before they are Baptized and some that are Baptized may cease to be Visible Saints neither are they only Visible Saints that make a profession of the true Religion joyned with an Holy Conversation Some Men may behave themselves so as to deserve a sentence of Excommunication and yet be Visible Saints Visible Saintship and real Saintship may consist with a great deal of iniquity in the Conversation for a time Visible Saints are such as make a serious profession of the true Religion together with those that do descend from them till rejected of God 1. Such as do make a serious profession of the true Religion are Visible Saints we find the Apostles did really accept of such not waiting to see what their Conversation would be Act. 16,14,15 So did John Luk. 7.29,30 Such are to be accepted without delay 2. Their Infant Seed are likewise Visible Saints God gives that Testimony for them 1 Cor. 7.14 3. Such also as descend from them from Generation to Generation untill they are rejected by God are Visible Saints for they that are Visible Saints don't cease to be so till God hath cast them off So it was with the Posterity of Abraham if they should carry it wickedly or if they should fall into Heresy yet they are Visible Saints till God hath rejected them and there are two ways whereby God may shew his rejection of them One is when they do depart from the Churches of God to Heathen or Antichristian Societies the other is when the People that they belong unto and they with them are unchurched by God CHAP. III. Of the Nature of a Congregational Church AS a Civil Society doth consist of one Town or more Towns so an instituted Church
some things in those Psalms are not so suteable to our present Case so it is in what we read yet those Psalms are very suteable for us to meditate upon and contain in them much Instruction and Incouragement and because they were indicted by the Spirit of God are more proper to affect our hearts and excite the workings of Grace then such as are of a private Composure A third part of Worship is the Preaching and Teaching of the Word the Preaching of the Word is to be attended to the End of the World Matth. 28.19.20 It is the Duty of Ministers to Preach the Word 2 Tim. 4.2 A Minister is called a Preacher Rom. 12.14 This is a special means to advance the Conversion of Sinners and Edification of Saints Altho it be the special Office and Duty of Teaching Elders and ordained Ministers of the Gospel yet Preaching being a Moral Duty it is lawful for those who are not ordained Ministers to Preach the Gospel Yea in some cases it is Lawful for such Men who are not devoted to the Ministry provided they have suteable abilities The reading of large Portions of Scripture upon the Sabbath Day which was constantly Practised by the Jewish Church is not so particularly now required by God there was great need of it in those Ages when the World had not the benefit of Preaching but there is no institution requiring any such service of us any further then the Rule of Edification calls for it Ministers are not bound to observe any particular method in their Preaching they may Preach either by expounding some Portion of Scripture or by raising a Doctrine from a particular Text and applying of it or by explaining of a Catechism or in any other profitable way Ministers have Power to Catechise their hearers not only that they may know their fitness to participate at the Lords Table but also in order to their growth in knowledge tho it may be presumed that many Persons are inquisitive and studious yet there are many others who are not to be confided in and the Minister hath Power by Virtue of his Pastoral charge to see that they Learn reason dictates this to be a most suteable method as in the Learning of Arts and Languages so in the Learning of the way of salvation the most proper and profitable ways of teaching are to be used by Ministers A fourth part of Worship is Baptism this is an ordinance appointed by Christ himself to be a perpetual Ordinance in the Christian Church It was published by John before by Virtue of an Institution but afterwards declared by Christ to be a standing ordinance in the Church It is very likely that the form afterwards used by John and his Disciples was that they did Baptize in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 19.5 But seeing Christ did expresly command his Apostles before his assention to Baptize in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost we have no reason to think that the first Teachers of the Gospel did use any other form and when we read that the Samaritans were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Act. 8.18 And that Peter ordered that Cornelius and his Company should be Baptized in the Name of the Lord Act. 10.48 No more seems to be intended by it then their being Baptized according to the institution of the Lord Jesus The Persons that are sent to Administer Baptism are the same that are sent to Preach the Word Matth. 28.19,20 Tho the Apostles did sometimes decline it yet we have reason to conclude that they committed it to Inferiour Ministers After the Example of Christ who did not commit it to the People but to his Disciples John 4.2 Therefore such Preachers as are not ordained Ministers are not to Baptize Baptism may be Administred either in the Publick Assembly or in private there is no appointment that necessitates the publick performance of it there is nothing in the Nature of the ordinance that doth necessitate it and we find that the Apostles and Apostolical Men did it as there was occasion both publickly and privately Act. 8.38 and 9.18 and 16.33 There is no necessity that Persons be Members of any particular Congregation before they be Baptized Persons before they be Members of any particular Congregation may have that qualification that gives them a right to Baptism viz. Visible Saintship many that were Baptized in the first times did not belong to any particular Congregation of Christians and tho many of them did belong to particular Jewish Congregations or Synagogues yet some did not Act. 16.33 Such adult Persons as make such a profession of the Christian Faith as is Morally sincere are to be Baptized as doth appear by the Example of John Christ himself Phillip and others who were directed by the Spirit of God and none were refused that did seriously tender themselves to be Baptized Such Infants as are descended from the Covenant People of God by either Parent are to be Baptized 1 Cor. 7.14 Such Infants as do descend from Parents that are under Church consures for immoralities are not to be denied Baptism because Excommunication doth not cut Men off from the Covenant of God such Infants as are the Children of Heathens belonging to the Families of the People of God are Incorporated into the Covenant and are to be Baptized when the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your Children unclean he speaks of them as they come into the World yet it follows not but when they are taken into the Families of Christians they do become Holy such were to be Circumcised under the Law A fifth part of Worship is the Lords Supper which was instituted by Christ a little before his Death to be a standing Ordinance in the Christian Church all such Professoâ—…â—f the Christian Faith as are of blameless Conversation and have knowledge to exaâ—… themselves and discern the Lords Body are to be admitted to the Lords Supper Three things are requisite in order to admission to the Lords Supper First Visible Saintship and that is found in such Persons all professors walking blamelesly are Visible Saints the Members of the Jewish Church are often called Saints in the Scripture who did give no further evidence of their Saintship a Profession of the faith joyned with a good Conversation is a sufficient ground for Charity these are marks that we are directed in the Scripture to Judge of Mens Saintship by The Apostle did accept of such Persons for Visible Saints Men that have these Characters are not visibly wicked therefore they are Visible Saints these properties are the proper Fruits of Saintship and therefore constitute Men Visible Saints such a profession as being sincere makes a Man a real Saint being Morally sincere makes a Man a Visible Saint That whereby Godly Men do make their Saintship Visible does make Men Visible Saints viz. A profession of the truth and a good Conversation A second requisite is that they be not scandalous a
as no Man may neglect Prayer or hearing the Word because he cannot do it in Faith so he may not neglect the Lords Supper The Lords Supper is Instituted to be a means of Regeneration it is not appointed for the Converting of Men to the Christian Religion for only such as are Converted may partake of it but it is not only for the strengthening of Saints but a means also to work saving Regeneration There be many according to the Ordinance of Christ to be admitted to the Lords Supper who are not Regenerate Matth. 25.1,2 The Kingdom of Heaven is like ten Virgins five of them were Wise and five Foolish and it can have no other immediate end respecting these but their Conversion the end of all Ordinances is salvation and therefore to these Men it must be Regeneration for without it they cannot be saved This Ordinance hath a proper tendency to draw sinners to Christ in this Ordinance there is a particular Invitation to sinners to come to Christ for Pardon here is an affecting Representation of the Virtue of Christs sufferings here is a Seal whereby the Truth of the Gospel is confirmed all which are very proper to draw sinners to Christ If the Lords Supper be only for the strengthening of Saints then they who are not Saints do profane the Ordinance when they do partake and it is not Lawful for them to partake and then they that do not know themselves to be Saints don't know that it is Lawful for them to partake and so far as any Man hath scruples about his Saintship he must proportionably have scruples about the Lawfulness of his Participation and so Sacrament Days which should be Days of Comfort will become Days of Torment All other Ordinances are appointed for Regeneration Prayer hearing the Word Baptism so likewise the censures are that the Soul may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus they are to further Mens Regeneration in case they be not Converted already and it would be strange if the Lords Supper alone should not be appointed for that end whereas it hath a proper tendency thereunto and many that come to that Ordinance by the appointment of Christ stand in as much need of it as those that partake of other Ordinances A sixth part of the Worship is Ecclesiastical censures these were appointed in the time of the Old Testament and are to continue in use unto the end of the World it doth evidently appear both from the Writings of the Jews and likewise from the Scripture that the Jews did make use of Ecclesiastical censures John 4.34,35 John 3.22 and 12.42 And it is evident that these censures were according to Divine Institution from Matth. 16.17,18 Christ doth not here make a new Institution for the Gospel Church for that Church was not yet in Being but he urges them to the practise of an Old Institution if it be enquired where we find any such Institution in the Old Testament I Answer in that expression which we often find in the Old Testament that they should be cut off from Israel Gen. 17.14 Exod. 12.14 When one Brother is required to reprove another and in case of Incorrigibleness to complain to the Church that command doth not only bind the Brethren of the same Congregation but also the Brethren of any other Congregation for there lies the same Bond upon us according to opportunity not to suffer sin in others as well as in the Members of the same Congregation There is no need of a particular Institution who shall have the Power of Judgment to determine whether a Person be to be censured or not it is a part of Rule and where God appoints Rulers in his Church he appoints that they shall Judge these matters therefore when Christ appoints a Pastor to be a Ruler in the Church he expresses it by having Power of binding and loosing Matth. 16.19 A Person that is under Church censures is not thereby cut off from his Membership he stands in a Brotherly relation to other Members of the Church 2 Thess 3.15 Lying under offence and under censure for his offence doth not deprive him of his Visible Saintship therefore his Children are to be Baptized Such offences as are of a more Heinous Nature don't call for Church censures provided there be a suteable Spirit of Repentance if the end of censures be obtained there is no occasion for them Persons under the sentence of Excommunication are not only to be debarred from the Lords Supper but also to be exclued from the familiar Society of the People of God where there is no special Bond we are not to have that Society with them that we may have with Heathens 1 Cor. 5.9,12 To this Act of Worship appertains Absolution when the Person that hath offended doth manifest a Spirit of Repentance whether he has been censured or not he is to be acquited The seventh Act of Worship is the Blessing of the Congregation there is a Blessing of Men by way of supplication that may be performed by any Person and there is a Blessing by way of Confirmation this is pronounced in the Name of God this is either extraordinary by way of prediction so the Patriarchs did bless their Children and others endued with a Prophetical Spirit did bless the People as Moses or else ordinary pronounced in Gods Name by ordinary Ministers this may either be pronounced by way of assertion as when the Minister doth say Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it Or in way of supplication as when he saith The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you Yet this is more then a Prayer Viz. A Declaration in Gods Name what shall come to pass and therefore it must be understood in such a way as is according to Gods Covenant Deut. 20.34 God appointed the Priests of Old to Bless the People Numb 6.23 And this work seems to be a common work to the rest of the Levites who were teachers in Israel Deut. 10.8 There is no need of any new Institution in the Gospel impowring Ministers to bless in the Name of God it being a proper part of the work of a Minister Christ by appointing Ministers hath appointed Men to bless the People yet that seems to be Instituted Matth. 10.12,13 Deut. 21.5 Such Men as are Preachers of the Gospel yet not separated to that work by Ordination have no Power to bless the Congregation because this depends meerly upon Institution therefore is not to be done but according to Institution Ministers being appointed to bless Authoritatively in the Name of God it is utterly improper for them to speak in the first Person including themselves Numb 6.24 It is also improper for them to Bless the Church of God that are dispersed all over the World CHAP. VIII Of Churches consisting of Divers Congregations A Church consisting of Divers Congregations is a Society of Divers Congregational Churches joyning together according to Gods appointment for the
constant carrying on of the Publick Worship of God such Churches are acknowledged in the greatest Part of Protestant Churches but some in latter times do make a Question whether there be any such Churches That there are National Churches does appear First from the light of Nature the light of Nature teaches us that Man was made for the Worship of God that Man is fitted for Society and the great end why he is so is that in Society he may carry on the Worship of God and as the light of Nature teaches us that lesser Societies ought to carry on the Worship of God in Conjunction so that Kingdoms and Countrys should joyn together in promoting and advancing the Worship of God it is most agreeable to the light of Nature that they that are one People should Unite together in carrying on Gods Worship and should have Power to regulate and govern the several parts of that Body Nature teaches that every Kingdom should see that the Worship and Ordinances of God be attended in the several Congregations therein 2 dly From Gods appointing the Nation of the Jews to be one Church Act. 7.38 And God has not appointed any new forms of Churches in the times of the New Testament there are no other kinds of Churches appointed now Congregational Churches are no new kind of Churches but according to the Old Institution for evâ—…y Synagogue of the Jews was a Congregational Church they had Ecclesiastical Rule and Government in them they are called Churches by Christ Matth. 18.17 That the Old Testament Institution doth continue still appears partly because the Christian Churches of the Jews were subordinate to the National Church of the Jews they were Members of the National Church and did attend Jewish Ordinances and thâ—…fore by Institution Christian Congregations are not absolute but Subordinate to a National Church it is further evident because the Jewish National Church did not cease as their Ceremonies did because their Date was out but because they rejected Christ Rom. 11.20 Had they kept Gods Covenant they would have continued a National Church to this Day 3 ly From the Publick Covenant that is between God and a professing People God made a Publick Covenant between him and the People of Israel wherein he engages publick Prosperity unto them upon condition of their obedience and all professing Countries are under the same Covenant for substance the promises and so the threatnings declared are of force unto the end of the World and we have the like encouragement to obedience that they had and are in the like danger in case of â—…sobedience God deals with professing Countrys at this Day according to the Tenor of that Covenant those promises will never be out of Date to the end of the World God makes the same to Israel with respect to the time of their Restoration this abundantly Witnesseth that every Christian Nation is a Church if God hath made a Covenant with them upon condition of obedience then they are a Society in Covenant with God then they are one body in Covenant with God and the whole hath Power over the parts and they are invested with sufficient Authority to see the Covenant kept If they were in Covenant and had not Power to make the several parts to keep Covenant the Covenant would be a snare to them particular Societies might bring guilt upon them and they would have no Power to remove it if they be all engaged in one individual Covenant the Country hath Power to regulate all Maleadministrations that any of the parts are guilty of if they are in one individual Covenant they are as one body Expoused by God the People of God the flock of Christ and therefore one Church here is all that made Israel to be a Church therefore such a People are a Church 4 ly From the promises that God hath made of making Gentile Nations to be his People God did not only promise to set up soâ—… Churches among the Gentiles but to take whole Nations into Covenant with himself Isa 24.22 And it is expresly foretold by Christ that whole Nations should receive the Gospel and become Churches Matth. 21.43 Yea the Scripture declareth that when Israel is Converted they should be in the same Covenant as formerly the same promises are made to them in Eâ—…iel as the Fruits of their obedience as were made to them in Deutrenomy and if the whole Jewish Nation will be one Church when they are restored then it will be so with every other Christian Nation the difference between Jews and Gentiles is now abolished 5. Because the supream Ecclesiastical Authority doth not lye in particular Congregations if there be no National Church then every particular â—…ngregation is absolute and independant and not responsable to â—…y higher Power This is too Lordly a principle it is too ambitious a thing for every small Congregation to arrogate such an uncontroulable Power and to be accountable to none on Earth this is neither a probable way for the Peace of Churches nor for the safety of Church Members appeals 〈◊〉 admitted in all Kingdoms and it is more probable that in a whâ—… Country Persons may be found that may rectify the Miscarriaâ—… of particular Congregations then that particular Congregations will not miscarry this absoluteness of particular Congregations is a dignity that the primitive Churches did not enjoy this is not the common Priviledge of Gospel Churches the primitive Churches were under the Government of the Apostles and it seems that God gave them this Power because the ordinary way of Government could not then be practised the greater part of all Gentile Nations lying in their Heathenism Obj. 1. We don't find in the New Testament any National Church among the Gentiles Answ The reason of that is not that National Churches are not according to the mind of God in the Days of the New Testament but because there was no Nation that did receive the Christian faith Tho there were many Congregations gathered among the Gentiles yet there were very few of them comparitively that did entertain the Gospel the bulk of all the Gentile Nations lay in their Heathenism during all that time that we have the History of in the Scriptures Obj. 2. God hath not appointed in the New Testament any National Officers as the High Priest in Israel nor any National place of VVorship as Jerusalem therefore there is no National Church Answ 1. To have one National Officer over the â—…le is not essential to the being of a National Church Israel was a National Church when they had no such National Officers while the first Born did Exercise the Office of the Priests before the separation of the Levites to that work There be several sorts of civil Government none of which are essential to a Republick The being of a National Church doth not necessitate this or that form of Government If there be a National Church it follows that there must be some to Rule over the whole