of all ranks Orders and Conditions not only of ignorant or private men but of the most learned and wise not a few leaving their ancient and countrey-rites and Religions in which they were born and bred without any hope of any Earthly advantage nay but rather with a certain expectation of afflictions ignominy and all manner of dangers and miseries did most constantly adhere and cleave thereunto yea so far did the force hereof prevail that all other Religions else although every where establisht by humane power and force the Jewish only excepted because that was of God did almost wholly vanish and became extinct at the rising brightness of the same A Prolepsis or prevention and answering of an objection touching the Testimony of the Church 8. And although indeed the primitive Church which was in the Apostles days might most certainly know and undoubtedly also did know that these †Luk. 1. 1. Col. 4. 16. 1 Thes 5. 27. and 2 Thes 3. 17. Books were written or at least approved of by the Apostles and delivered as it were from hand to hand the knowledg hereof unto us and deposited or left the same with us as a certain pledg in trust yet do we not therefore hold these Books for True and Divine because the primitive Church hath by its uncontrollable Judgment judged them true or that they contain in them Divine Sences or Meanings and hath by its infallible Authority decreed that they be held or accounted for such For first it was not necessary that the Church by its Judgment should define and by its Authority determine that those Books which were written or approved of by the Apostles were true and Divine or of God or no for that both before and without all such manner of Judgment was altogether certain and undoubted of by all Christians both in general and particular insomuch that assoon as any one of them knew that any thing was written or approved of by the Apostles he might even | Eph. 2. 20. Act. 2. 42. 1 Thes 2. 13. thereby and of right ought to know that the same was true and of God or Divine and needed not any other Judgment in the case In the next place neither indeed could such a judgment of the Church suffice seeing no Man can be certain no not so much as probably of the being of any Church unto which such an Authority is said to belong except he be first assured that those books wherein the said Authority is said to be given or assigned to the Church are true Divine and seeing he cannot know and determine for certain that any Church is the true Church of Christ * Rom. 10. 14 15 16 1â— Joh. â—0 3 4 27. 1 Pâ—t 1. 23 24 25. chap. 2. 1 2 3 c. if he be not already undoubtedly sure and certain before that whatsoever is contained in the said Books the same is true and from God for by vertue of that very Faith or Belief whereby the Church embraceth or receiveth that as true â—he her self finally obtains and hath her being a true Church And if indeed such an Authority as this agrees not with the very first primitive Church it self much less ought we to believe that it belongs to any Church at this day or any indeed succeeding that first and primitive one 9. The Doctrine therefore contained The Authâ—â—ty of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 1. 2 3. Heb. 1. 1. in these Books is of it self altogether Authentick and indeed of Authority Divine and †uncontrollable and by reason of the infallible vâ—racity of God deserves altogether and challengeth undoubted Credit and Belief and by vertue of its autocratorical or absolute and supream Power most humble Obedience Dâ—â—t 4. 2. â—â— 32 â— Tim. â— 15. â— Pet. â— â— from us And whatsoever ‑ Doctrine or Tradition wants this priviledg of being of a Supream and Divine Revelation it hath not by any Right either the same or the like Authority with it much less that which either decreeth any thing else either contrary to it or diverse from it and that by an usurpt Authority | Mat. 15. 9. 16. 6. Gal. 1 8 9. or at least otherwise than is contained in writing in these Books commandeth it to be declared or being declared to be believed upon the pain and peril of the loss of Salvation since God can neither contradict himself and no Authority either Humane or Angelical ought to be equalled to the Divine 10. And now because such Divine-like The Sacred Scripture is the only Rule of Controversies of Faith Authority as this belongeth unto and agreeth with these very Books only it is therefore even withal necessary that by them * Isa 8. 20. Act. 17. 11. alone as by Touchstones and firm and umovable Rules we examine and try all Controversies and Debates in Religion and by them only to reason discourse and judg of them and so to leave them to God alone and to Jesus Christ as the only supream and infallible †Jâ—m 4. 12. Mat. 23 8. Judg peremptorily to be decided for we are not to think that it was any ways God's will and pleasure in the least that they should be decided by any judicial or authoritative right by any visible Judg and one ordinarily speaking in the Church sith it hath pleased him to leave us in his Word a rule only directive or to judg only | Psal 19. 8 9. 119. 105. Luk. 16. 29 31. directively by and not withal coactively or by way of constraint but that there ought to be an infallible Judg always speaking in the Church he hath no where signified nor hath he in his Word pointed out who he should continually be but hath expresly commanded all every one alike * Deut. 6. 6 7 c. chap. 11. 8. so on to search his Laws or Judgments and Statutes to †1 Joh. 4. 1. so on â— 1 Thes 5. 21. try the Spirits whether they be of God yea to try ‑ all things and to hold fast that which is good and moreover hath promised to such as search into his * Prov. 2. 2 3 4 c. chap. 3. vâ—â—s 13. so on Psal 1. 2. †Act. 17. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Laws and seek the understanding of them his Grace and Holy Spirit and †those who have searched the Scriptures and examined Controversies of Faith by them yea who have diligently tryed by the Rule and Square of the Scripture those things which have been spoken by the Apostles themselves he hath commended and praised them with singular Elogies 11. Therefore they who do freely And not the Church or a Synod c. give themselves or suffer to be given by others this irrefragable Authority of peremptorily deciding of Differences and Controversies of Faith or Religion either all or some either to some certain Church or Synod of Doctors or to any Society
a certain mutual communion amongst one another and a spiritual communion with their one only and true Head our Lord Jesus Christ as they really are so also are they rightly called * Mat. 16. 18. 18. 17. Act. 20. 28. every where else the Church of Jesus Christ Of both which to wit the Church and the Communion thereof we say in the Apostles Creed I believe the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 2. For this Church is nothing else What the Church is but an Assembly of men called by the Gospel †Rom. 10. 10 14 c. Eph. 5. 23 c. and believing on Jesus Christ or at least with their mouth professing his Name and Doctrine as saving although some more some less either sincerely and purely or firmly and constantly believe on Christ or at least outwardly in words and rites profess Christ 3. For the Church whilst it is militant In what respects it is invisible here on earth is wont according to the Sacred Scripture to be considered under a twofold respect 1. As an Assembly | Eph. 5. 23 25. Gal. 6. 10 16. 1 Pet. 1. 22 23. of Men and Women truly pious and believing and that do cordially and sincerely embrace and love and with their whole heart keep and order their lives and conversations according to that saving Doctrine of Jesus Christ which they profess with their Mouth Which Assembly is visible and certainly known * Rom. 2. 28 29. 8. 27. 10. 9. 1 Cor. 4 5. Rev. 2. 23. to God only but is invisible unto us Seeing true Faith and Piety which lie hid within the heart none but God the alone indeed searcher of the Hearts and Reins can behold them 4. But to hold the saving Doctrine What Congregations are to be counted for the true Church of Christ of Jesus Christ is not forthwith so perfectly to know * Rom. 14. 1 c. 15. 1 c. Phil. 3. 15 16. all that is every way contained in the doctrine of Christ so as to err or hesitate in no one Article at all or no Sacred History or sense of the Holy Scripture but at least well and rightly to hold or understand †1 Cor. 7. 19. Gal. 1. 6. 6. 15. all that without which we cannot rightly observe and perform the Commandments of Faith and Obedince nor consequently according to the Mind and Will of God obtain eternal Salvation Therefore all those Churches which agree in the belief and profession of necessary Truth we believe that they ought to be counted for true Churches of Jesus Christ although in the mean time they differ in many other things and in some respects not inconsiderably swerve from the Truth 5. The Church is considered as it is How far it is visible a visible Multitude of those that | Act. 2. 41 c. ch 5. 11. 8. 1 c. 14. 32. publickly profess the Faith and Doctrine of Jesus Christ although haply they do not truly believe in him which as to the outward Confession of the Mouth and other manifest signs of Faith of that kind is of it self even sufficiently known and visible unto us although it appear * Rom. 10. 9 10. 11. 3 4. 1 Cor. 4. 4 c. Another division of it into Catholick particular sometimes less evidently or clearly 6. Again both may be considered either as Catholick †1 Cor. 1. 2. Rom. 10. 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 11. 12 c. Eph. 1. 22 23. 5. 23 24. or universal which being spread throughout the whole World comprehends or contains all Congregations together either of those who truly believe or at least profess so to do or as local or particular | 1 Cor. 1. 2. Gal. 1. 2. Rom. 1. 7. 16. 1 4 5. which is gathered in certain places by parts severally for instance at Corinth in Galatia at Ephesus c. Of which this or the other whatever it be may not only err in doctrine but also revolt from the true Faith the profession thereof * Rev. 2. 3. tot yea and oftentimes also doth actually revolt from the same the Catholick Church in the mean time still remaining safe entire notwithstanding Nor indeed is there any divine promise extant whereby the sincere profession of true doctrine and a continual succession therein or an uninterrupted and uniform continuance of the continual assistance of the Holy Ghost and of the Orthodox Faith and that to be always clearly seen is promised to any certain particular Church or Congregation yea indeed rather both examples †1 Thess 2. 3 c. 1. Thess 4. 1 c. 2. Tim. 3. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1 c. Act. 10. 29 30. and presages of the defection of many are every where obvious or easy to meet with in the Holy Scriptures Of the Marks or Notes of a visible Church 7. Furthermore the Notes and Marks such indeed as are certain and infallible which clearly demonstrate unto us and make a Church or Christian Assembly which is already gathered by the preaching of the Word visible may be reduced unto one only general that is unto the profession | Mat. 10. 32 33. Joh. 10. 4. 5. 27. 12. 42 43. 13. 34 35. 14. 21 c. of that sacred and saving doctrine which was delivered by Jesus Christ in conjunction with at least an outward keeping * Act. 2. 41 42. 4. 32 c. Rom. 10. 9. 1 Tim. 3. 15. of the Commandments of Jesus Christ For whereas true Faith which is given unto the saving doctrine of Jesus Christ doth as the more inward form and as it were the Soul constitute and make a true and invisible Church of Jesus Christ it is necessary doubtless that the alone profession of that true and saving Faith which we have spoken of make the same visible unto us 8. But with labour and toil either to Against fallacious uncertain Marks seek or demand or to desire to shew unto others other Notes or Marks whereby those who as yet are wholly ignorant what a true Church of Christ is or which or what is the saving Doctrine thereof may come certainly undoubtedly to the knowledg of the true Church and consequently to the knowledg of the Truth it self is altogether vain and foolish for that so to pretend is neither †See the places just now quoted necessary nor profitable nay not possible rightly or orderly to be performed So far is it from such Marks consisting in those things which the World and Fleshly reason are wont so highly to esteem to wit in Antiquity Multitude Consent Succession of persons outward Splendour of Congregations or worldly Happiness c. of which many of late do vainly boast 9. Furthermore the duty of those who The duty of the Citizens of the Churches belong to this visible Church doth not
as was uncontrollable and unquestionable and to which all Believers were bound to yield and obey And to these indeed were joyned both * Act. 15. 32. 21. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Eph. 4. 11 12. Prophets and Evangelists and Teachers and Pastors and other such like who also themselves used and bestowed their utmost diligence and pains either for the gathering of new Churches or Assemblies or afterward for the nourishing and feeding and further instructing of these that were already gathered by the Apostles 4. But when such Foundations and Their following success first beginnings had now been laid by these lest when they were either absent or dead those Congregations should be scattered and decay again or come to nought and so by this means this divine and saving Doctrine by little and little should vanish away and be lost they every-where in those places where Churches were already gathered appointed them their successors to wit †Act. 14. 23. 20. 28. Heb. 13. 7 17. Phil. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 16. 5. 17. Bishops Elders and Deacons by whose help endeavour and care those Churches might continually be preserved and as much as might be also encreased in number and gave express advice and command that the same afterwards at all times and in all places should be done in all Congregations giving withal an | 1 Tim. 3. 1 c. Tit. 1. 5. 6 c. exact description what manner of persons they ought to be who were thenceforth to be set over the Congregations for this end 5. And they indeed therefore appointed Bishops and Elders * Act. 20. 28. 2 Tim. 2. 24 25. 4. 2 5. Tit. 1. 9 c. 2. 5 17. Bishops and Elders that both of them by preaching the Gospel by teaching wholesome or saving Truth by confuting errors contrary thereunto also by exhorting comforting reproving correcting ruling and lastly by going before others by †1 Tim. 4. 12. Ti◠2. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 3. their example c. might preserve or keep together the Churches already planted and by a continual succession to their utmost power might propagate the same And they ordained Deacons | Act. 6. 1 c. 1 Tim. 3. 9 10 c. that after they had been first proved or tryed they might diligently employ themselves in gathering and distributing alms and in pious and tender care-taking of the poor in the said Congregations From whence ariseth the perpetual necessity and manifold use of the whole Ministry of the Church 6. But because after the Apostles days The authority of those limited and those first Preachers of the Gospel or Founders of the Church when the doctrine of the Gospel had now already been fully enough proposed and in the judgment of God himself abundantly confirmed and lastly clearly committed to writing that immediate sending of Ministers ceased together with infallible instruction and the undoubted assistance of the Holy Spirit therefore an irrefragable Power or infallible Authority in teaching and ruling hath no more place also Which also even the Apostles themselves were minded to testify when they gave and left unto the Bishops and Elders a certain * 2. Tim. 3. 10 14. Act. 15. 24. 1 Cor. 14. 37 38. Tit. 1. 5. and perpetual rule of Doctrine and form of Discipline according unto which these were to teach and rule the Churches for the future by and expresly commanded them and seriously charged them that they should diligently keep the †2 Tim. 1. 13 14. pattern or form of sound words which they had heard of them and that they should remember and hold fast that | Tit. 1. 9. faithful doctrine which they had learned and therefore bade an * Gal. 1. 8 9. Anathema to those who brought any doctrine contrary to or differing from that which they themselves had delivered †Rom. 16. 17. and withal injoyned the Churches that they should receive or admit of no other doctrine besides that which they had received from the Apostles no although even an Angel from Heaven brought it 7. But since it is the Duty and Office Of degrees and order among them of all Bishops and Elders | 2 Tim. 1. 13. to teach and * 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. govern the Churches according to that form that is laid down by the Apostles it appears manifest enough that they have not by any divine right any †Mat. 20. 25 c. 23. 8. Command Power or Authority properly so called one over another And yet do we not therefore notwithstanding altogether disallow of much less proudly reject those degrees of Teachers and Rulers which have now long since been appointed and every where hitherto taken place in diverse Churches of Christ for order and decorum's sake or for preserving good order For indeed God is not the | 1 Cor. 14. 33 40. 1 Tim. 3. 15. Author of Confusion but of Order if so be they do not at length degenerate into Tyranny and make shew of some worldly Dignity and Power rather than of a spiritual Ministry and of that modesty and moderation which becometh the Disciples of Christ 8. But if any one shall abuse the pretence Against the manifold abuse thereof of this order unto pride haughtiness and in particular if any by these degrees shall not stick to climb so high as arrogantly to assume unto himself not only a supreme Right to determine in matters of Religion and to decide all Controversies of Faith * Mat. 24. 49. Luk. 12. 42. c. 3. Joh. 9. 2 Thess 2. 4 c. 2 Pet. 2. 1 c. 2 Cor. 11. 20. Rev. 11. 7. 13. per tot Gal. 4. 29. but also to usurp Lordship over the Lords Heritage and over his fellow-servants yea over Kings and Princes yea further whether directly or indirectly to usurp a coactive power that is armed with outward force or upheld by the secular arm to punish others yea to punish them with the Sword and with Death who cannot out of Conscience attribute this Authority unto him or who refuse to subscribe to his Determinations Decrees and Statutes though in all other respects they be good and loyal subjects to the Common-wealth if any we say shall under this pretence usurp such a power in the Church of Christ or any other whatsoever like it or at least attribute to himself the same in words or suffer it to be attributed to him by others truly he seemeth unto us to recede very far from the Office of a true Bishop CHAP. XXII Of the Church of Jesus Christ and its marks or notes 1. FUrthermore those Congregations The Church of Christ and the Communion thereof or Assemblies which either by the publick pains or labour of these Ministers or otherwise by the word of the Gospel any ways whatsoever preached read or heard are gathered as it were into one body all and every of whose members have