belong to this and not to other m Heb. 12.23 § 13. The Catholick Church is but one onely a Eph. 4.4.5 1 Cor. 12.12 and it cannot be visible as Catholick for the greatest part are not seen by us being Saints in Heaven b Eph. 1.10 3.15 Elect Infants and many not known by Profession and if Men apply Catholick to the Professors of Christianity living at the same time upon the Earth and call them the Catholick Visible Church it is a mistaken Appellation for they are neither a Visible Church nor Catholick Not a Visible Church because 1. Christ hath instituted none such 2. They are never seen in coetu or in a Congregation as a Visible Church is nor can be till the last Day c Mat. 13.41 3. Christ never gave Ordinances for such a Communion 4. All these are not under any visible bond of Confederation together which is the form of a Visible Church Profession is no Bond but a proper requisite only thereto 5. Christ never instituted such a Church Ministry but what were set in a particular Church and exercised in such The Apostles Christ's extraordinary Ministers were first set in the Church at Jerusalem d Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 and were first Officers there and tho their Commission reached to the Planting and Governing other Churches that should succeed yet they exercised not their Ministry or Apostolick Power to any supposed Catholick Church Visible nor wrote to such but gathered particular Churches out of the World and in them settled a distinct Ministry and Ordinances peculiar to each wherein they exercised their own power as far as necessary for their Settlement and Edification Again there is no Catholick Visible Church for 1. If there be there is two Catholick Churches which is a contradiction and contrary to that Creed called the Apostles 2. All visible Professors if a Church cannot be Catholick because they are not all the Members of Christ on Earth and they that profess at large at least are not Members of Christ many if not most of them 3. It is not a Catholick Church because it 's not a Body-Corporate in any visible manner nor are capable of answering the ends of such in Government Order or Priviledges 4. If there be a Catholick visible Church it 's rational there should be a Catholick visible Pastor and from these Principles arose the Pope and the Papal Jurisdiction established throughout the professing World In the first Ages after Christ each particular Church called it self Catholick from the Profession of that Doctrine which was called the Catholick Faith because received by all the Churches Afterward the Word Catholick was applied to a supposed Universal Visible Church and became not only serviceable to the rising of the Mystery of Iniquity but a great Foundation of the Antichristian Fabrick which was afterward built thereon with all the Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Papal Superstitious Pomp imaginable The Protestants that have cast off the Universal Pastorship of one and will not endure a Catholick single Pastor do most of them retain the Notion of an Universal Visible Church as also of divers Catholick Pastors dividing that Catholocy which they will not allow the Pope among themselves each one exercising the Office and Power of a Catholick visible Pastor where-ever he comes having bin ordained by a Presbytery of a Catholick Constitution to a Catholick Pastorship to the Catholick Church To conclude Our best Protestants in opposition to the Papists have still denied the being of a Catholick Visible Church amongst whom was Famous Dr. Whitaker whose Arguments upon this Question against Duraeus are Quoted by Mr. Hooker in his Survey ch 15. p. 265. Our Savoy Confession allows the Name but denies the Nature Ch. 26. § 2. Institution of Churches § 6. for it saith it s not entrusted with the Administration of any Ordinances nor hath any Officers to Rule and Govern as such and what a kind of Visible Church is that that is neither the subject of Ordinances or Officers Mr. Hooker saith Church is the Genus of all particular Churches but a Visible Church in the generical consideration can no more be found existing out of individual particular Churches than a Man can be found existing under the generical consideration of Man out of individual Men. But that a totum aggregatum of all Churches in this World can be made and be a visible Church he denies upon Learned and convincing Reasons which will stand their Ground against all contradiction To whom for brevity sake we refer the Reader where also he evinceth that there 's no Catholick Visible Church considered as a totum Representativum i. e. as a Representative Church in all the Pastors that there cannot be a Catholick Visible Representative Church and that there is no such thing as a Representative Church of any kind of greater or lesser extent § 14. What the Scripture speaks of a Church is either of a Church in general and indefinitely belongs to any or of a Church in Specie either Catholick and invisible or particular and visible but saith nothing of a Catholick Visible CHAP. III. Of a Congregational Church in General Of Christ's Dispensation as Head A visible Church defined Revealed Worship exercis'd first in Families then in Instituted Churches The Foundation of visible Churches laid in Abraham's Covenant Two parts thereof The Church of Israel First Essential then Organized The difference between the Mosaical and Gospel Oeconomy The Church of Israel Congregational § 1. THE Lord Jesus Christ exerts his Headship not only by the more immediate Administration of his Spirit a 1 Cor. 2.11 12. 12.4 7.13 Eph. 4.3 7. internally in the hearts of his People whereby he constitutes his Mystical and Catholick Body but also as the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession b Heb. 3.1.2 6. by external Means of Grace Constituting and Ordaining particular visible Churches and in them Ministry and Ordinances suited to the State and respective Ages of the World c Heb. 9.1.8.10 Deut. 29.1 for the filling up and edification of his Mystical Body d Eph. 4.12 13. and blesseth such accordingly to his great Glory and good of his Chosen e Eph. 3.21 Ps 106.45 Exo. 20.24 Deut. 4.8 § 2. A Visible Church is a Particular Assembly of Professing Believers a 1 Cor. 1.2 visibly embodied in Christ b 1 Cor. 12.27 for a stated and holy Communion c Act 9.31 in one place d 1 Cor. 11 20. with God and one another in all instituted Ordinances e Act 2.42 appertaining to themselves and their immediate seed f Act. 2.39 Isa 61.9 65.23 Eph. 6.4 for God's Glory in Christ g Eph. 3.21 and their mutual Edification h 1 Cor. 14 5.12.26 § 3. God's External Worship by Revealed Religion was first celebrated in Adam's Family a Gen. 4.3 4. and continued in the Families of the Faithful till the time of Abraham
Establishment in its Vailed State and as to its appurtenances appropriate to Abraham's Natural Posterity in a National Church-Constitution waxed old decayed and vanished away n Heb. 8.13 and the substantial part of Abraham's Covenant in respect of the true Grace and Government of the Promised Seed appeared and remained glorious o Gal. 3.17 4.26.28 30 31. § 4. These Extraordinary Ministers were Apostles Evangelists Prophets and Teachers whom the Lord Jesus set in the first Gospel-Church at Jerusalem a 1 Cor. 12 28. and gave them to his Churches for a general good but firstly to that Church b Eph. 4.10 11. where they first exercised their Ministry Apostleship and Eldership The Apostles so called by Christ's first Mission were Twelve c Matt. 10.2 c. one of which fell from his Apostleship d Act 1.20 these were Ordained by Christ himself and had a double Mission one to the Jews only before Christ's death e Mat. 10.6 whereby the Partition-Wall was broken down f Eph. 2.14 and then to all Nations Jews and Gentiles g Mat. 28.19 with a particular charge to go to the Jews first h Acts 13.46 Upon the Fall of Judas Matthias was chosen by the Church and a Divine Ordination by Lot i ch 1.26 Paul and Barnabas were additional Apostles k ch 14.14 and sent especially Paul Apostles to the Gentiles l Ro. 11.13 They had an extraordinary Ordination by Christ's immediate Call and Instigation of the Holy Ghost m Acts 13.2 Ga. 1.12 They were all of them such as had bin Eye-Witnesses of the Life Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Lord n Acts 1.21 22 23. Paul himself had seen Christ but was converted and called to Apostleship after his Ascention therefore he saith he was born out of due time o 1 Cor. 15.8 9. They were divinely inspired had a marvellous effusion of the Spirit upon them p Act. 2.12 had the Gifts of Tongues Healing Interpretation and of miraculous Works q Mark 16 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 12.28 They had more than ordinary Graces and Gifts mightily furnished to the Work of the Ministry and lastly had the Care of all the Churches r 2 Cor. 11.28 § 5. The Evangelists were inspired Ministers of Christ to his Churches a 2 Tim. 3.16 Acts 8.5.26 21.8 Sub-Apostolick Adjuvant to the Apostles in their Work and much at their direction b 1 Tim. 1.3 2.15 2 ep 2.2 Tit. 1.5 Some were Apostolick Evangelists as Matthew and John two of them Called Evangelists from their Evangelical Histories of Christ in their Gospels c Matt. 1.1 Mark and Luke were only Evangelists none of the Twelve Philip Timothy Titus were only Evangelists ordained Apostolically d Acts 6.2 2 Tim. 1.6 Titus 1.5 and employed and sent by the Apostles to places where they had Preached and to Churches already Planted to Visit Teach and Direct to the Election of Officers and see a supply of what was wanting or prepare Matters for the Apostles coming § 6. The Prophets and Teachers of the first stamp seemed to have much of Inspiration by the Holy Ghost a Act 2. by the coming down thereof upon the Apostles and Brethren at Pentecost It appears not that they had any Office or governing Power in the Church nor much differing b ib. 13.1 but being Brethren full of the Holy Ghost as the Deacons and Barnabas before set apart c ib. 6.3 11.24 were employed by the Apostles or moved in themselves to Preach the Gospel where-ever they came for Conversion of the dark unbelieving World d ib. 11.19 There were of later date Gifted Brethren by an ordinary Measure e 1 Cor. 14 4 5 37. 1 The. 5.20 of Grace and Gifts some for Edification within the Church and some for Propagation of the Gospel abroad which may yet remain the reason thereof remaining § 7. These Extraordinary Ministers continue not in the Churches a 1 Cor. 13 8. neither Apostles or Apostolick Men to whom it was essential to be Ordained or immediately sent by Christ and the Holy Ghost as also extraordinarily inspired and qualified The Miraculous Gifts they were furnished with are ceased b Ibid. The Apostles were to be such as had seen the Lord on Earth c Acts 1.21 22. of such there is none now They were charged with the Care of all the Churches d 2 Cor. 11 28. of such there is none now one or more to whom Christ hath committed the Care of all the Churches or of many indefinitely Lastly There 's not the same Reason for such a Ministry now The Doctrine of the Gospel having bin received in the Nations of the Earth the Canon of the Scripture filled Churches have bin planted and walked in by the Rules and Order of the Gospel The Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles abundantly confirmed by divers Signs following e Heb. 2.3 4. and since by the Profession Practice and Sufferings of multitudes of faithful Witnesses f Heb. 12.1 Rev. 12.11 CHAP. VII Of the Ordinary Ministers of a Church Christ hath appointed a sufficient Ministry for the Churches according to their inward and outward concerns What an Elder is What sorts The Pastoral Charge what it contains How discharged by one or more A Teacher what A Ruling Elder what A Deacon what A Church is fully Organiz'd with a Pastor and Deacon § 1. CHRIST being Exalted to God's Right Hand and sitting there an Apostle and High Priest of good things to come a Heb. 9.11 hath made provision for the calling in of the Elect b Acts 13.48 and his redeemed ones c Rev. 5.9 building and furnishing his spiritual Temples and Habitations for God by the Spirit d Ephes 2.20 21. not only by and under the Apostles Ministry but also by a sufficiency of Ministry and Ordinances in an ordinary and standing way and manner of Dispensation to the end of the World e Matt. 28.19 20 21 § 2. According to the great Concerns of a visible Church in this World Christ hath wisely consulted the well-being of it a Eph. 3.10 in instituting and appointing the Ministers thereof b Ephes 4.10 11. As to the higher internal concerns he hath ordained Elders c Acts 14.23 Phil. 1.1 and as to the more external no Church being able to subsist and keep up Ordinances according to the instituted Nature of them without a due care of those concerns he hath ordained and appointed Deacons d Acts 6.2 3. Phil. 1.1 § 3. An Elder is an ordinary Minister to the Church chosen and ordained by it to a Charge with Rule and Government a 1 Tim. 5.17 Act. 4.23 being a Person of Age or Gravity judged to be duly qualified for it b 1 Tim. 3.1 2 c. An Elder Presbyter or Bishop we may find to be taken in Scripture for one
of another Congregation but not as a Pastor much less can he administer there as a Pastor It 's one thing to communicate as a private Member and another thing to dispense as a Ministerial Officer A Member of the Corporation of one City yea the Mayor himself may be received with much welcome as an approved Member of a Neighbouring Corporation at Festival Entertainments but must not sit on the Bench there to do any act of Office out of his Place and out of his Power whether the Mayor or chief Magistrate be alive or dead So whether the Pastor of a Church be alive or dead the Pastor to another Church hath nothing to do there as a Pastor § 4. In Cases of Difficulties and Differences arising in Churches many Churches holding Communion together may by their Elders and Messengers meet together to consult and advise about the said Matters and report to the respective Churches Howbeit these Assemblies as such are not trusted with any coercive Power or Jurisdiction over the Churches to impose their determinations on them or their Officers Besides these occasional Assemblies and Councils there are not instituted by Christ any stated Synods in a fixed Combination of Churches or Officers in lesser or greater Assemblies nor are there any Synods appointed by Christ by way of Subordination to one another CHAP. XV. Of Maintenance of Ministers Christ appointed the Support of Ordinances and Ministry That Ministers are to be maintained proved from Christ's Mission of the Disciples And by the Doctrine of the Apostle Paul § 1. CHRIST Jesus in his infinite Wisdom having instituted Churches and external Ministers and Ordinances in those Churches hath also appointed such outward ways and means for the support thereof as is necessarily conducible to his Honour and Interest in his established Worship in the World and therefore hath ordained Churches should minister of their Temporals to the upholding and maintaining of Spirituals both Ordinances and Ministry § 2. The Subject which we shall chiefly speak to now with much brevity is To prove that those Ministers who labour in the Word and Doctrine ought to be maintained in a competent manner by the Churches or People that partake of their labours so far at least as they are able And it appears § 3.1 In that Christ when he Ordained and sent forth his first Preachers of the Gospel chargeth them not to go forth at their own Charges both the Seventy a Luke 10.3 4 5. and the Twelve b Mat. 10.10 Luke 9.1 3 4. to make no Provision for themselves either Food Raiment or Money but into whatever House they went there to stay Eating Drinking and Lodging and if they were not welcome and freely entertained they were to shake off the dust of their feet against them in detestation of them and he gives them likewise to understand that he sent them not about as Common Beggars but that there was Moral Justice in it that they should be maintained by the People to whom they Preached for the Workman is worthy of his Meat c Mat. 10.10 nay he tells them how dangerous it shall be to those that refuse them to save their Charges It shall be more tolerable for Sodom c. d Ibid. v. 14 15. § 4.2 The Apostle Paul insists much upon it as a Duty that he saw the Churches were backward enough to in his day and would be more afterward For He Argues from the Law of Nature and common Justice Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox c a 1 Tim. 5.18 It 's an unnatural thing to starve the labouring Ox and not suffer him to take now and then a Mouthful of the Corn he treadeth out Again he argues from common Justice The Day Labourer by the Rules of Commutative Justice is to have his Hire Again he argues from the less to the greater Doth God take care for the poor dumb Oxen b 1 Cor. 9.9 and doth he not take care for his labouring Ministers And he tells us this was the Moral sence of Moses his Law not to muzzle the Ox c c Deut. 25.4 1 Cor. 9 10. Again he argues from the reasonable expectation of all labourers in worldly Affairs he instanceth in the Souldier that goes not a Warfare at his own Charges The Planter of a Vineyard expects Fruit thereof The Shepherd that feeds the Flock expects to eat of the Milk and the Plowman and Thresher d 1 Cor. 9.7 10. If all these reasonably expect outward subsistance from their labours Why should not he that labours in the Word and Doctrine Again the Apostle argues by way of comparison of Temporal and Spiritual things together shewing that spiritual things are much more worth than carnal And hence saith If we sow to you spiritual things is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things e 1 Cor. 9.11 Rom. 15.27 Again he removes an Objection that they would be apt to make from his own Example and saith That although he took nothing of them for some special reasons yet he assured them that he had power to do it as well as others f 1 Cor. 9.4 5. implying that other Apostles did take Maintenance He Argues also from the practice under the Law by God's Appointment That they which did minister about Holy Things liv'd on the Temple and Altar and that God hath not taken less care of his Ministers about Holy Things in the days of the Gospel but hath made Maintenance of Ministers an Ordinance He hath Ordained That they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel g Ibid. v. 13 14. You will say Where did Christ Ordain it It is enough if we be told so by an Inspired Man but it is easie to see that he Ordained so at his first Mission of Gospel-Preachers the Twelve and the Seventy Obj. Paul took nothing of the Corinthians Ans He tells us why Upon the account of the Corinthians and False Teachers That he would not be cut off from his Triumph upon this account to stop their Mouths but yet he saith he robbed other Churches i. e. he took more of them than otherwise he would have done even what he should have had of the Corinthians taking Wages of them to do the Corinthians service h 2 Cor. 11.8 § 5. It may be Enquired In what Proportion the Maintenance of a Minister ought to be The Apostle calls it Wages and therefore 't is the sence of our Saviour and the Apostle too That it should be a comfortable Provision for themselves and Families according to that Way and Degree of Living which the generality of sober People have to whom they Preach the Apostle telling us Let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things a Gal. 6.6 Obj. But it may be said How much of all good things I will give little enough Ans The Apostle in the context says enough to stop Mens Mouths here b Ibid. v 4. Let every Man prove his own Work c. immediately after the Text mentioned c Ib. v. 7.8 Be not deceived God is not mocked c. Object You will say It seems to be a low and Mean Thing for a Preacher of the Gospel to take Maintenance Ans Is any Ordinance of Christ low and Mean Doth he Ordain Low and Mean Things And why did Christ himself take Maintenance rather than provide for himself Miraculously d Luke 8.3 Much more might be said but this will be enough to any one that hath any deference for the Authority of the Scriptures FINIS