of the Apostolicall Churches In the choosing of an Apostle the voices of people went as farre as any humane Suffrages could goe of an hundred and twenty they chose two and presented them before the Lord and his Apostles And because and Apostle was immediately to be called of God out of those two God chose one Act. 1.15.23.26 Act. 14.23 The Apostles are said to have ordained Elders by lifting up of hands to wit of the people as the originall word implieth And the multitude of the Disciples are directed by the Apostles to look out and choose seven Deacons Act. 6.3.15 The practice of succeeding Churches for many yeares after is plaine from Cyprians words Lib. 1. Epist 4. Plebs maxime potestatem habet vel dignos Sacerdotes eligendi vel indignos recusandi Object 2. It is also demanded by what warrant doth a particular Church depute such who are not Presbyters to lay their hands upon Presbyters Were it not more regular and orderly to repaire to some Bishop to receive imposition of hands from him or as the Presbyters in every Church in Crete received imposition of hands from Titus who was left in Crete with Episcopall Authoritie for that very end Tit. 1.5 or rather then take imposition of hands from lay-men as they are called why doe not the Churches rather intreat the Elders of other Churches to supply the defect of their owne Presbytery by the Presbyters of other Churches Ans The warrant by which each particular Church doth depute some of their own body though not Presbyters to lay their hands upon those whom they have chosen to be their Presbyters is grounded upon the Power of the keys which the Lord Jesus Christ who received all fulnesse of Power from the Father hath given to the Church For the power of the keys is the power of opening and shutting binding and loosing Matth. 16.19 And this is given to the whole Church met together in his name Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever saith Christ speaking of the Church yee shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever yee shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven which is the whole ministeriall power of the Keys SECT VII Object 1. THe Church is not the first subject and receptacle of all Ecclesiasticall power For though the Church elect a Pastor or other Elder yet the office of a Pastor is from Christ Eph. 4.8 And so is his Authoritie from Christ also And if he have neither his Office nor his Authoritie from the Church how can he be ordained by the imposition of the hands of the Church Answ 1. Though the office of a Pastor in generall be immediately from Christ and the authoritie from him also yet the application of this office and of this authoritie to this elect person is by the Church and therefore the Church hath sufficient and just warrant as to elect and call a Presbyter unto office so to ordaine him to it by imposition of hands They that have Power to elect a King have power also to depute some in their name to set the Crowne upon his head Answ 2. As the Authoritie of the Pastor and other Elders is not from the Church but from Christ so neither is their Office and Authoritie from the Bishop nor from the Presbytery nor from the Classis of Presbyteries If therefore that were a just impediment why the Church should not lay hands upon their elect Pastors or Elders because neither their office nor their Authoritie is from the Church then neither may the Bishop nor the Presbytery nor the Classis lay their hands upon them because their office and Authoritie is no more nor so much from them as from the Church nor by this Argument might the Apostles themselves if they were present ordaine Officers because neither the office nor the Authoritie is from the Apostles but from Christ onely Neither will it follow from hence as some object that if the Elders received their ordination from the Church then they should execute their office in the Churches name or that then they may be more or lesse diligent in their office at the Churches appointment or that then the Church hath a Lord-like power over them or that then the Elders must receive their errand from the Church as an Ambassadour doth from him from whom he receiveth his Commission or that then the Church in defect of all Officers may performe all duties of their Officers as to administer Sacraments and the like None of all these things will follow For 1. Most of these Objections doe strike as much against imposition of hands by Bishops or Presbyters 2. Though the Elders doe receive the application of their office and of their power by the Church yet not from the Church or if from the Church ministerially onely as instruments unto Christ So that they cannot choose or ordaine whom they please to what office they please but whom they see the Lord Jesus hath prepared and fitted for them and as it were chosen and ordained to their hands nor may they inlarge or straiten the limits of his office whom they doe elect or ordaine but as the Lord hath prescribed nor can they give him any errand but onely a Charge to looke to the ministery which he hath received from the Lord nor have they any more Lordly power over him then he over them but both ministeriall as they have received from the Lord neither may they administer Sacraments in defect of all Officers because that by appointment from Christ pertaineth onely to such as are called by office to preach the Gospel Mat. 28.19 20. As for mutuall instruction and admission election and ordination of Officers opening of the doores of the Church by admission of members and shutting the same by Church-Censures these things they may doe if need be without Officers yea and if all their Officers were found culpable either in hereticall Doctrine or scandalous crime yet the Church hath lawfull Authoritie to proceed to the censure of them all For they that as a Church might admonish Archippus Col. 4.17 might in case he had not hearkened to their admonition have proceeded against him to Excommunication And they that might so proceed against one of their Officers might in like sort upon like ground proceed against them all which they could not doe if the Church did receive the power of the keys not immediately from Christ but from the Presbyters And yet in such cases our Churches are never wont to proceed but in the presence and with the consent and approbation of other Churches as knowing that in such weightie cases in the multitude of Counsellors there is safetie And as the Church doth not choose any Elders but in the presence and with the approbation of other Churches so neither doth it proceed to the censure of them but with the like grave and solemne assistance Object 2. The Apostles received the power of the keys immediately from Christ Joh. 20.23 And therefore the Church
received it from the Apostles and the Officers of the Churches from them also and not from the Church Answ It is true the Apostles being extraordinary Officers as they were immediately called and chosen of Christ not by the Church so they were most of them ordained by Christ and not by the Church And yet not all of them neither For Paul and Barnabas though chosen to the Apostolicall office immediately from God yet they were ordained to that office by the imposition of hands of some officers or members of the Church Act. 13.2 3. But that hindereth not but as the Apostles received their power immediately from Christ so did the Church receive their power immediately from Christ also For he that said to the Apostles Whose sinnes yee retaine they are retained whose sinnes yee remit they are remitted Joh. 20.23 He also said to the Church Whatsoever yee binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever yee shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Mat. 18.18 which is a Commission of the same power and to the same effect If then the Church have received as well as the Apostles the same Commission of Church-Power so farre as it is of perpetuall use that though the Church then presented their Officers chosen by them to receive Ordination from the Apostles yet when the Apostles are ceased and no other successors left in their roome from whom their Officers might receive ordination but from the Presbytery of their own Church then where such a Presbytery is yet wanting and their power is now to be executed the Church hath full power to give ordination to them themselves by the imposition of their hands SECT VIII Object VVHen the Apostles ceased Bishops were left as successors in their roome As Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete to ordaine Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 Answ Timothy and Titus were not left to ordaine Elders as Bishops but as Evangelists whose office was alike extraordinary in the Church as that of Apostles and Prophets Eph. 4.11 Their work being to follow the Apostles and so set forward the work which the Apostles had begun whereto the Apostles called them forth and directed them And not to keepe setled residence in any one Church as Elders doe or in any one Nation of Churches as Bishops doe Timothy is expresly commanded to doe the work of an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 And Titus was not ordained a Bishop at Crete but left in Crete as having travelled up and downe with Paul Gal. 2.3 and comming to Crete was left to direct the Cretian beleevers in their Church-affaires after Pauls departure afterwards he departed to Dalmatia 2 Tim. 4.10 Sometimes Paul appointed him to meet him at Nicopolis Tit. 3.12 Sometimes he sent him to Corinth 2 Cor. 12.18 And commends him as his partner and fellow-helper to the Church of Corinth And at Troas Paul found no rest in his spirit because he found not Titus his Brother 2 Cor. 2.13 And in Macedonia he found much comfort because he found Titus there 2 Cor. 7.5 6. Which argueth his calling was not Episcopall to rest in a certaine charge but to travell up and downe with the Apostles or after them or whither the Holy Ghost should lead them forth to help forward the work of Christ and the Apostles Object But in the Subscriptions of the Epistles of Paul to them Titus is called the first ordained Bishop of all the Cretians And Timothy the first ordained Bishop of the Church of Ephesus Answ The Subscriptions of Pauls Epistles both those and the rest are no part of Canonicall Scripture but Apocrypha not written by the Apostles themselves but by some Scribes that copied them out in after ages as is observed by many learned both Protestants and Papists In particular this Subscription in the Epistle to Titus containeth an apparent mistake for the Subscription saith the Epistle was written from Nicopolis to Macedonia as if Paul had been at Nicopolis when he wrote this Epistle which conceit in the Scribe sprang from a mistake of Pauls words Tit. 3.12 where Paul bids Titus be diligent to come to mee to Nicopolis for I have determined there to winter but Paul doth not say I have determined here to winter as if he were there already in Nicopolis but I have determined there to winter to wit as intending to goe thither for to winter The Subscription of the Epistle to Timothy stiling him the first ordained Bishop of the Ephesians will not stand with the Apostles charge to him in the same Epistle 2 Tim. 4.5 doe the work of an Evangelist For a Bishop was to attend with personall residence upon his charge Act. 20.28 But an Evangelist was to travell up and downe with the Apostles or after them to come and goe at their appointment As Paul there doth command Timothy to be diligent to come to him 2 Tim. 4.9.21 Againe when Paul addresseth himselfe to goe to Rome from whence this Subscription telleth us this Epistle was written he intending to passe by Macedonia to Rome Act. 19.21 besought Timothy to abide still at Ephesus 1 Tim. 1.3 But if Timothy had been the Bishop ordained of the Ephesians his dutie would have bound him to abide there and should not have needed Pauls intreaty so to doe Besides when Paul in that journey came to Miletus he called for the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.17 whom also he named Bishops for so the Greek word is which is translated overseers v. 28. and then Paul acknowledged no such singular ordination of any to a transcendent Episcopacy but what was common to all the Elders of Ephesus But that it may further appeare that it was not the intent of Paul or of the other Apostles to direct the Churches to send the Elders whom they have chosen unto any Transcendent or Diocesan Bishop for ordination nor left any to like eminent place after Timothy and Titus to performe that work Let it be considered that there is no direction at all in the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus for the Churches election of any Evangelist or of any Bishop over many Churches For 1. The Bishop Paul speaketh of in Timothy of whose qualification he giveth direction 1 Tim. 3.2 to 7. he calleth them all when he commeth to give order for their maintenance by the name of Elders some Ruling Elders some Labouring in the Word and Doctrine And in his Epistle to Titus the Elders which Paul left Titus to ordaine in every Citie he calleth them Bishops Tit. 1.5.7 Now of these he appointeth many Elders and many Bishops in one Citie or Church not many Cities or Churches under one Bishop Act. 14.23 Elders in every Citie Act. 20.17 18. Many Elders and Bishops in the Church of Ephesus Phil. 1.11 Many Bishops as well as many Deacons in one Church of Philippi and that a poore one too for Philippi was a Church in Macedonia Act. 16.12 And all the Churches of Macedonia had tryall of deep povertie
offence from the spirits of their Brethren but if it do appear that the dissent whether of one or more Brethren do arise from such darknesse and intricacie of the matter in hand as that the officers and members of the Church do find themselves either unable to cleare the matter fully or at least unfit in regard of some prejudice which may be conceived against them which sometimes doth fall out though very seldome in such a case when the matter is weightie and the doubt great on both sides then with common consent wee call in for light from other Churches and intreat them to send over to us such of their Elders or Brethren as may be fit to judge in such a cause upon their coming the Church meeting together in the Name of Christ the whole cause and all the proceedings in it are laid open to them who by the help of Christ pondering and studying all things according to the rule of the Word the truth is cleared a right way of peace and concord discovered and advised and the spirits of the Brethren on all parts comfortably satisfied SECT IV. IN these transactions wee know not what might be subject to exception or controversie but only that we allow to the people so much power in the censures of the Church both in binding an offender to admonition and excommunication and in loosing of penitents from the same But the Reasons that prevail with us to take this course seems to us to have evident ground from Scripture-light and therefore may excuse us from following the pattern of such Churches as rather consult with humane wisdome then divine institution in this case Our first Reason is taken from the royall rule of Love and Wisdome in healing offences given by our Saviour Matth. 18.17 where he directeth a Brother offended for the healing of the spirit of an offender finally to referre the matter to the Church Tell saith he the Church Now we cannot finde throughout the new Testament that ever the word Church is taken any otherwise then for the Society and Congregation of the faithfull unlesse it be once where it is taken for a civill Assembly Act. 19.41 But never for one Bishop or Counsellor or Archdeacon for neither doth the Scripture acknowledge any of these offices in the Church at all as hath been shewed above taking a Bishop as now they stand nor can the Church which is a word of multitude hold forth a Bishop or his Commissary who is but one person For though one person may represent a whole Church when he is sent forth in the Churches name with instructions from the Church yet such is not the case here The Bishop cometh in his own name and the Commissary in the Bishops name but neither of them in the Churches name nor with instructions from the Church but rather with destructions or at least with disturbances to the Church Neither is the word Church taken throughout the new Testament for an Assembly of Presbyters the Consistory is a word unheard of there Nor are any complaints directed thither unlesse it be to prepare them for the hearing judgement of the Church As all the Elders are said to be assembled in the house of James to prepare and instruct Paul for the carriage of his matter before the Church Nor are any Censures of the Church committed to the Presbyters alone to be administred by them though they be to be administred by them in the presence and with the consent of the Church And therefore when the Angels of the Churches in Asia are blamed for neglect of proceeding against offenders whether Balaam or Jezabel or the Nicholaitans the charge is given not to the Angels of the Churches onely but to the Churches also themselves Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 2.17.29 And though the word Congregation which is all one with Church be sometimes put in the old Testament for Elders or Judges of the Congregation yet 1. It is farre more frequently put for the Elders and body of the people met together as he that observeth the severall places shall finde it 2. When it is put for the Elders and Judges of the Congregation as Numb 35.12.24 25. it is never understood of them sitting in a Consistory by themselves apart from the people but in the presence of the publick Assembly of the people who also had libertie in such cases to rescue an innocent from unjust punishment 1 Sam. 14.45 Object In Mat. 18.17 when Christ directeth the Brother offended to tell the Church he speaketh of such a Church to whom wee may orderly and ordinarily complaine now this wee cannot doe to the whole multitude Answ Wee willingly grant it will be orderly to tell any offence to the Elders of the Church before it be presented to the multitude of the Church both because they are the mouths and guides of the Church and also meet it is all things be prepared by them for the Churches cognizance that so the Church be not cumbered as sometimes it might with unnecessary and frivolous agitations But though the Elders in such a case have power to direct and perswade what were best to be done yet not power to judge and determine publick Cases without the consent of the Church unlesse the Brother offended be satisfied in their advise Answ 2. When a whole multitude is assembled in a body any offence may be orderly and ordinarily told unto them by a complainant especially in case any Officer amongst them shall call him forth to tell his complaint As the Levite orderly told his complaint to the whole multitude of the Congregation of Israel assembled at Mispah Judg. 20.3 4 c. Object 2. The Church Christ directeth unto he presupposeth to be the ordinary Executioners of all Discipline and Censures which the multitude is not And the reason ratifying the Censure of the Church doth shew the number of them to be small Mat. 18.20 where two or three c. Answ The multitude of the Church doth ordinarily execute all Discipline and Censures by the Presbyters and the Presbyters by their Consent The promise made to two or three ver 20. respecteth not the Judges of the cause when it is brought to the Church but the two or three Brethren who dealt in the Cause before it came to the Church As in like sort the promise of binding in heaven what the Church bindeth in earth ver 19. pertaineth to the ratifying of the Censure of the whole Church mentioned in the verse before to wit in vers 17. A second Reason why wee allow such power to the people in Church-censures is taken from the practice of the Church of Corinth in the case of the incestuous person and that according to the Apostles direction For in the 1 Cor. 5.4 5. he directeth the whole Church of Corinth to whom he writeth That they in the name of the Lord Jesus when saith he yee are gathered together