upon grounds more evident believed then any reasons brought to prove the contrary by that worthy person wherein he acknowledgeth himself almost singular in this undertaking and lays his first and greatest stress on that expression 1 Cor. 11.22 Here saith he I take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church to note not the Assembly but the place appointed for sacred duties and that from the opposition thereof to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own houses these are places proper for common and ordinary repast and not the Church or housâ— of God This is the only argument which he brings besides some obscure passages of some Fathers whose opinions will not sway here but as in other things so far as we see them consonant to the truth manifest in Scriptures compared together and it seems strange that the word should have a tropical meaning in this place and every where else a proper one and besides the reason from the opposition will not hold especially if we consider what Mr. Mede understands those Oratories or Churches of theirs to be It is not to be imagined that in the first three hundred years before Constantines time that they were such goodly and stately structures as the Church had after the Empire became Christian At the first some capable and convenient Room within the walls or dwelling of some pious Disciple dedicated by the religious bounty of the owner to the use of the Church and that usually an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upper room or Caenaculum It 's very probable that all the Disciples houses were at the service of the Churches but that any one house or room in a house was dedicated so to that religious use as to be separated for it from common uses when the Church met not is not probable at all for in times and places of Persecution if Churches meet in any certain house or place though in a private house they shall be sure to be interrupted and broken in upon by Persecuting Officers and Informers The only place met in for some time considerable that we read of was Pauls own hired house at Rome but we find not that it was consecrated or called a Church I am sure consecrated Barns Garrets Cellars or Dining Rooms would be esteemed by our devout Ecclesiasticks a great Abomination But how will the Opposition hold if the Room called the Church was in the same house they eat and drank ordinarily in He should have rather said Have ye not Kitchens or Parlours of common use to eat and drink in but you must despise or put a Prophanation on the Garret which is the Church of God Besides if that Addition had not been made to the Church I should much rather have enclined to Mr. Mâ—des sence if he had said only despise ye the Church But I take it that it would be a very audacious and highly abusive Expression to say Tâ—at a Meeting-house is a Church of God or a Church of Christ And why is not the Opposition as full thus Have you not houses to eat and drink in or Families for so the word is used But you must do it in the Church-Assemblies for they made their Love-feasts in their Assemblies It is evident enough that the Apostle takes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Assembling of the Church together as vers 18. where its used when you meet together in Assembly i. e. when you are Congregated together I hear that there have been Divisions or Schisms among you and those he means had the Divisions who were the Church for the Gospel ascribes culpable Schismes no where but to Body Politicks or Assemblies not to Houses But if we grant Mr. Mede all that he so industriously labours to squeeze out of the Text only to favour the Relative Holiness of such places it s not to be supposed that he intended that they were real and proper Churches but only Metonymical Churches by a Trope and improperly so named no otherwise allowable names putting the Continens pro contento to distinguish places allotted to convenient assembling in Religious Worship from Town-halls and other houses of meeting together for publick concerns or more private Society and Conversation And so we lose nothing by it if such a place be called improperly a Church it s not the Church of Christ intended in the Gospel which Christ purchased with his blood nor built of living stones nor such as Christ is the Head of nor such as Paul wrote his Epistles too nor the Church of Corinth which he exhorts rebukes and commends in the Epistles that he wrote And therefore we may with the greatest assurance conclude that no place where Religious Assemblies frequently use to be is a Church of Christ or may properly be so called They that plead the Expression in the Ephesian Town-Clerks Speech Act. 19.37 Ye have brought hither these which are neither Robbers of Churches Shew their little skill in the Original Text the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Robbers of Temples such as were dedicated to the Heathen Gods and Godesses to which they ascribed not only Relative but inherent Holiness and therefore adapted that name to them CHAP. III. Of a National and Provincial CHURCH CHrist never instituted any such Church under the Gospel Administration as a National and Provincial or Diocesan there is as much for one as for the other there 's no seeming pretence can be made for any of them from any Gospel Expression when I say this I mean not a Church in a Nation Province or Diocess nor all the particular Churches in such place collectively and co-ordinately considered But I mean in the usual acceptation of such Churches in our day as of France of Spain of Denmark c. and in the sence that a National Church was taken in under the Old Testament viz. an Organized National Provincial or Diocesan Church that have Officers or Members suited to their respective Natures and Constitution as Pastors and other Officers Exercising National Provincial or Diocesan Jurisdiction in Ecclesiastical Courts or elsewhere and Members quatenus Natives of such places being therefore said to be born within the Pale of the Church or by vertue of such Nativity have immediate right to baptism and made so I say that that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no where signifies such a Church in the New Testament except when there is mention made of the Church of the Jews and the word is but once used in Application to them Act. 7.38 This was he who was in the Church in the Wilderness this we own was a National Church but elsewhere in the New Testament I know not of one place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can with any fair pretence be understood of a National Church Besides it may be argued from undeniable reasons that Christ instituted or intended not such a Church for the days of the Gospel If it be duely weighed that Christ by his Death put a full Period to the whole Jewish
reason of his remove And that this is so de facto see Can. 28. entituled Strangers not to be admitted to the Communion Church-wardens c. shall observe Whether any Strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Ministers of them least perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Tahle amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their own Parish-Churches and Ministers there to receive the Communion with their rest of their Neighbours Just as one Neighbour doth with the others Dogs when they run into each other houses a munching Home you Cur you c Here 's no admission of Members of another Parish therefore our conclusion holds good That by this bond of Communion Christians are cut off from the free Election of their Minister and Society in holy things whereas he is not enthralled so in worldly matters he can go out of the Parish to choose his Physician Chirurgion Wife Nurse Apprentice Taylor Trade and deal for any Commodities where he will excepting Spiritual and in those he must take no better will he nill he then his own Parish-shop affords Is not this so far from a Gospel constitution of a Church that it 's a miserable wretched and damnable device of the Devil to destroy the very nature of Gospel-Churches and ruine poor Souls to all intents and purposes I know what will be still pleaded for a Parish Church without respect some will it may be say to the bond of Cohabitation and that is this That where-ever the Word and Sacraments are Administred that is a true Church To which I answer these things 1. There is no politick Society but hath a bond of Union and if that be proved null void and of no effect as we have done the whole Society or Corporation falls to the ground 2. That which is Sawce for a Goose is for a Gander also if the Preaching the Word and Administring the Sacraments make a Church without any more why do the Assertors of parish-Parish-Churches deny Separate Congregations where the Word and Sacraments are Administred to be such 3. There may be a Church in a Parish where the VVord is Preached and Sacraments Administred but it follows not thence the Parish is the Church It 's possible there may be a Church of Christ in Algiers but then it follows not that the City of Algiers is a Church 4. The 19th Can. of the Church of England saith There should be a Congregation of faithful men and a due Administration and the Word of God Purely Preached Implying that where the Majority at least which carries the denomination of the whole in all body politicks are not visibly faithful men but otherwise there 's not a Church of Christ likewise where the word of God is corruptly Preached and the Sacraments unduely administred 5. A Ministers Preaching by a meer Parish-relation makes him no more a Pastor then cohabitation makes the Parishioners Members for a Ministers Parish-relation is only a humane institution and indeed a matter of Civil Right which may be well improved in Reformed Christian Nations in order to Spiritual Advantage for the interest of Christ and his true constituted Churches by the countenance of good Magistrates but that it is a Church-relation setled on Gospel-grounds it would be absurdly insolent to pretend That the establishment of a Ruling Preaching Officer in the Church of Christ should be 1. by the Presentation of a Forreigner or a Tyrannical Gentleman or Landlord in the Parish it may be the most profest Enemy to Christ and his Church and if of the first sort by one that knows not the temper and disposition of the people nor the Abilities Parts and Honesty of him he Presents never regarding so much those qualifications whereby he might edify the people but only some carnal ends and advantages or particular regard to the Person of the Parish-Rector to prefer him or provide a competency for his Subsistance This man being presented is instituted and inducted takes to the profits for his life unless he forfeit them by some Puritan or Phanatick faults performs Parish-duties as the Law of some people requires this is his Parish-relation but not in the least grounded upon the Gospel 6. A Minister may Preach a great while in any place to any sort of people before there is a Church as for Conversion or for tryal of his Gifts and Parts but none can be so absurd as to affirm that that constant Preaching renders the Parish a Church for we know by woful experience that the word may be powerfully Preached in Parishes for a great while and great part most or it may be all be scarcely civilized but remain in Professed Atheism or manifest Prophaneness it may be open Persecuting Enmity to Godliness And if any say it must be constant Preaching that must denominate the Parish a Church I would know how long And what time is required If it be said till some are brought home to Christ and by a visible Profession to submit to his Gospel-Rules and Government then the limits of the Church is no further then the effects of the Gospel and it comprehends not those Inhabitants that still remain Professed Rebels against Christ So that if the Preaching the Gospel in a Parish renders it a Church of Christ as such one Sermon will do it as well as a hundred I say if all the Parishioners as such are to be the Church-members without exception upon the Gospel Preached 7. A Minister is often sent by Christian Magistrates for Conversion of People shall they presently be a Church whether they receive or own his Doctrine or no And it may be none of them or at least most of the Parishioners capable of judging of him or his Doctrine or a Minister sometimes is imposed by a Patron or Bishops c. upon a capable people shall they presently fall into a Church-Relation whether they approve him and choose him or no Such things carry the greatest absurdities with them 8. As Preaching may be in a Parish and no Constituted Church of Christ there so there may be the Administration of Sacraments and no Church of Christ there and if there be in the Parish it makes not the Parish a Church Suppose a pretended Minister imposed on a people that evidently enough declares himself by his life and Doctrine never to have been sent of Christ and challengeth the Parish by vertue of Humane Laws to be his Church as they call it which in general own no other Church-Relation but by Cohabitation this man goes on to Preach the Sentiments of his own Brain abuse Scripture Reproach Godliness rail at Persecute and devour the Sheep of Christ if there be any joyn in with the wicked ignorant lewd and debaucht part of the Parish and do all he can to infect the rest with the Scab or Rot This man Baptizeth and Administers the Lords Supper to his Infected Flock calls the soundest Schismaticks and Separatists Doth
by the Ministry first of the Prophets i. e. the scattered Brethren from Jerusalem were setled and confirmed by the Apostles who Ordained Officers respectively among them I proceed in the next place to the Churches to whom the several Epistles were wrote We read not the word Church in any part of the Epistles to the Romans but in the 16th chapter and there referring to other Churches The Church of the Romans as verse 1. he speaks of Phebe a Deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea and verse 4 mentions all the Churches of the Gentiles verse 5. salutes the Church in Aquila's house vers 16. The Churches of Christ salute you Though we have reason enough to believe that there was at this time a constituted Church at Rome because first he writes to them as beloved of God and called to be Saints chap. 1. verse 7. Secondly because he gives Rules to them for walking towards each other as those in Fellowship chap. 14. Thirdly Phebe is recommended to them from the Church at Cenchrea which would not have been had they not been a Church In the Epistle to the Corinthians we have more mention made of the word Church then in any Epistle The Church of Corinth importing a Particular Congregation and we may begin with that description the Apostle gives of it 1 Cor. 1.2 Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints c. he writes not to all the Inhabitants of Corinth but to the Church which he tells you what they are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints which words are exegetical of Church so he directs his second Epistle 2 Cor. 1.1 Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth with all the Saints which are in all Achaia Corinth was a City of the Province of Achaia and he writes primarily to the Church at Corinth and likewise to all the Saints which were in that Province whether they were actually in Church Fellowship or no. I shall briefly mention all the other Texts where Church is taken plainly for such a Particular Congregation as is described in the first Epistle chap. 1. 1 Cor. 4.17 I have sent unto you Timotheus who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church i. e. every particular Congregation 1 Cor. 6.4 If then you have judgment of things appertaining to this life set them to judge who are least esteemed in the Church i. e. in the Church of the Corinths of them it s primarily intended and as a rule for other particular Churches where no such thing as Christian civil Magistrates was in those times 1 Cor. 7.17 As the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches i. e. as a Rule for every particular member of each Church 1 Cor. 11.16 If any man sâ—emeth to be contentious we have no such Custom nor the Churches of God Verse 18. When you come together in the Church i. e. the Assembly not meant of the meeting place as before noted the same sence as in verse 22. Chap. 14.4 He that Prophesieth Edifieth the Church i. e. the Congregation that heareth him And verse 5. his reason of prefering Prophecying is given viz. That the Church may receive Edifying therefore saith verse 12. Seek that ye may excel that the Church may receive Edifying and verse 19. In the Church I had rather speak five words with my Vnderstanding that I might teach others Verse 23. If the whole Church be come together in one place Verse 28. If there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church c. Verse 33. God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all the Churches of the Saints Verse 34. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches Verse 35. For it is a shame for Women to speak in the Church Chap. 16.1 Concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given Order to the Churches such as are in the Province of Galatia even so do ye Where should Collections be made but in particular Congregations Verse 19. The Churches of Asia i. e. of that Region salute you Aquila and Prescilla salute you and the Church in their House it may be that frequently assembled there or that was for the most part belonging to their Family there might be enough for a competent Congregation in such times as those that Church is mentioned more times 2 Cor. 8.1 We do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia the word is always used in the plural Number when it s applyed to Nations Provinces Macedonia was a Province Regions as of Galatia Macedonia Asia Judea Verse 18 19. We have sent with him the Brother whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches verse 19. And not that only but who were also chosen of the Churches to travel with us the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and might be rendred ordained as well as in other places Verse 23. They are Messengers of the Churches Verse 24. Wherefore shew to them and before the Churches the proof of your Love Chap. 11.8 I robbed other Churches to serve you 2 Cor. 11.28 That which cometh upon me daily the care of all the Churches viz. as to his Apostolical Office 2 Cor. 12 13. What is it wherein you are inferiour to other Churches It seems there 's no superiority of one particlar Church above another but are all co-ordinate The word is thrice used in the Epistle to the Gallatians Chap. 2.1 2. Paul an Apostle and all the Brethren which are with me unto the Churches of Galatia a Province Verse 13. You have heard of my Conversation how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God and wasted it i. e. the Church of Jerusalem which was only extant when he began his Persecution and for ought I know while it lasted for that was a principal occasional cause of scattering the Jerusalem Church in order to Propagation but he tells them of more Churches in the Province of Judea after his Conversion Verse 21 22. Afterwards I came into the Regions of Syria and Cilicia and was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea which were in Christ. The Apostle directs the Epistle to the Ephâ—sians thus To the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus which terms have a synonymous acceptation most times with a Church and we have ground enough to believe there was an Established Church there when Paul wrote he writing of such high mysteries concerning Christ and his Church but we are fully assured of it afterward when John wrote Rev. 2.1 where he directs his Epistle to the Ephesian Church as if to the Dutch or French Church in England or the Ephesian Congregation at Ephesus but in all places where Church is mentioned in this Epistle he treats only of the Catholick Church