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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	church_n	member_n	mystical_a	3,558	5	10.4248	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90063	Irenicum; or, An essay towards a brotherly peace & union, between those of the congregational and presbyterian way; shewing out of the most learned and renowned divines of the congregational way, that their positions concerning 1. Church matters and members. 2. Church constitution and form. 3. Church state. 4. Church officers and ordination. 5. Church government and censures. 6. Church combinations and synods. 7. Communion with and separation from churches. are sufficient for the establishing a firme and lasting peace between them and the Presbyterians ... In pursuance of the good design begun at the Savoy, where it was agreed, and declared, that such reforming churches as consist of persons sound in the faith, and of conversation becoming the Gospel, ought not to refuse the communion of each other ... Drawn up and published by Discipulus de Tempore Junior.	Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; D. T.	1659 (1659)	Wing N910; Thomason E978_1; ESTC R202985	58,516	89

line 38. Quest 8. But is not mens consent to and acceptance of the covenant necessary to the bringing them into covenant Answ Gods appointment makes a covenant whether the creature assent to the agreement or no. Mr. Cotton of infant baptisme pag. 64. line 35. Quest 9. But yet men must have faith before they can be in covenant must they not Answ The children of the faithful are not first converted and so come under the Covenant but first under the Covenant and so come to be converted Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 29. line 7. God did establish his Covenant with Isaac Gen. 17.21 yet it doth not appear that Isaac had any faith then much lesse was it visible Idem page 33. line penultima The Apostle expounds the Covenant as given not only to them who are converted and so brought on to believe but to them who yet want faith and conversion Acts 3.25 26. Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 34. line 16. Quest 10. But is not the admitting of such who have no true faith nor saving grace to be Church-Members and to have right to the Covenant is it not a dishonour to God and Jesus Christ Doth it not make Christ the head of an heterogeneal body and to have members unsutable to himself a living head and dead members surely Christ will admit of no such members Will any man admit of dead branches to be set in his Vineyard Answ 1. It is true the Church which is the mystical body of Christ ought to be sutable to Christ her head and so she is many times but not alwayes every Member yea very seldome every Member if at any time Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 102. line 36. It is utterly untrue to say that Christ admits not of any dead Plants to be set in his Vineyard or that he takes not to himself a compounded body of living and dead Members or that the Church of God is not a mixed company c. Ibid. line 14. 2. Though no man will admit of dead Plants to be set in his Vineyard or grafted in his stock yet many Plants that are grafted and set may prove dead Men indeed will not admit dead Plants to be grafted or set because they know not what to do with them when they are dead But if dead Plants after they are grafted would grow either to be fruitful or if not fruitful good fire-wood it would be no bad husbandry to set and graft dead Plants And so it is here God thinks it no bad husbandry in him to admit dead Plants to be set and grow in his Vineyard and if they grow fruitful well if not to tolerate them there till they grow up to fulfill their iniquity as he did the Jews Matth. 23.32 because he knows then how to illustrate the glory of his justice in casting them into the fire of hell John 15.6 Matth. 3.10 Idem page 101. line 31. 3. Dead persons if in Covenant are alive to God Luke 20.77 38. And though a twig cannot receive life from the stock unlesse it bring life with it before it be engraffed yet Christ can give life to dead branches that are put to him as well as the dead Corps of Elisha could give life to the dead man cast into his grave 2 Kings 13.21 Idem page 150. line 13 c. Quest 11. But will Christ being spiritual endure a natural wife Answ To say he will not were to charge Christ himself with folly and with indignity offered to himself that he being spiritual should take so many thousand Infants into Covenant with him who for the most part are natural for one that is born of the Spirit there are twenty born of the flesh Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 160. line 14. Besides though Christ by taking a company to be a Church unto himself doth enter into a Marriage-Covenant with them yet not into Marriage-Covenant with each Member at first Ibid. line 20. Quest 12. May any man be admitted a Member of the Church but upon profession of his faith Answ Profession of faith and repentance is required from Converts of grown years whether Jews or Pagans Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 154. line 12. But as for those that are born within the Church and have been baptized in their infancy Baptisme is a Sacrament sealing unto them as other spiritual benefits so their initiation into Church-membership Mr. Cotton Holinesse of Church Members page 96. line 27. Quest 13. But seeing some are to be admitted upon profession of faith and you said before that a man may be a Church Member and in Covenant that hath but a temporary or historical faith if you put such a man upon the profession of his faith do you not cause him to dissemble and lye and play the hypocrite Answ True or false profession may be attended either in respect of the doctrine of faith professe● or in respect of the grace of faith professing it if the profession of the doctrine of faith be true though the grace of fa●th in the profe ●or of it be uncertain Or it may be hypocritical and false yet we dare not deny the nature and power of a Church to such As the Church judgeth not of hidden crimes so neither doth the faithful Judge of the Churches by their hidden hypocrisie but by their open scandals in doctrine or life God would have his people live without anxious perplexity as in marriage 1 Cor. 7.32 so in every society It were an inextricable perplexity to suspend the essence and validity of Churches and Church Administrations upon the hidden sincerity of Churches and Church-Officers or Members Mr. Cottons way of the Churches cleared part 2. page 40. line 20. Doctor Ames makes it most probable that there is no particular Church wherein the profession of the true faith doth take place but there are some found that are true believers in the same place Ibid. page 91. line 2. Quest 14. But is it not a dangerous thing to account wicked men and hypocrites Church Members and in Covenant Doth it not harden them in their sinnes and make them promise themselves life in the way they are in and keep them from returning from their evil wayes Answ We do not promise life to any by the Covenant unlesse they be Elect and because though they be Elect yet that is unknown to them and till they repent and believe we tell them they cannot partake in the saving benefits of the Covenant till they be regenerate and quickned by the Spirit as Christ told Nicodemus Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 33. line 25. Quest 15. But God approves and receives none but believers Heb. 11.6 Without faith k is impossible to please God and how can the Church approve or receive any whom God doth not approve and receive Answ 1. That text Heb. 11.6 shews that no man can be accepted of God without faith but not that God cannot receive any into outward fellowship of the Covenant without

faith Mr. Cotton of Infant Baptisme page 57. line 31. 2. God may approve a man to be admitted into the Covenant whose person he approves not Mr. Cotton Infant Bapt. page 66. line 39. 3. For it is one thing for the Word of God to approve men to be in Covenant another thing to approve them in the Covenant God he did never approve Saul nor Jehu in their Kingdome yet he approved both should be admitted to their Kingdome Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 68. line 19. Object But is it not said John 4. that God seeketh such to worship him as worship him in Spirit and truth therefore none but such may be admitted to the Ordinances of God And is it not said Acts 2.47 the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved or saved men as some translate it therefore none but such as are in the state of grace and salvation should be added to the Church Answ It is said God seeketh such to worship him as worship him in Spirit and in truth but it is not said God findeth such in every Church Mr. Cotton of Infant Baptisme page 103. line 35. Much lesse none but such 2. It is said Acts 2. The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved but it is not said he added none other Were not Ananias and Sapphyra added to the Church and Simon Magus also who yet for ought appears were none of them saved Mr. Cotton of Infant Bapt. page 67. line 35. Object But as none invisibly before God are by him approved at all to have right to any priviledges of grace but only as he looketh upon them in his Sonne No more are there any before man visibly to be approved of so as to have right to the same but as they appear to be in Christ by some effect of faith declaring the same Answ If you mean by grace saving grace it is true none have right to any priviledge of saving grace Mr. Cotton but as God looks at them in his Son either by faith or by election unto faith if you mean by grace the outward dispensation of the covenant of grace and of the seal thereof it is true none have right to any priviledge of the covenant or the seal of it but as they are in Christ either by faith or by election unto faith or by the fellowship with the Church whereof Christ is the head in which respect all the members of the Church and their seed are in Christ as branches in the vine or olive and may be cut off for want of faith to make them fruitful in him Mr. Cotton of infant bapt p. 55. l. 28 c. 2. But when you say none have right to the covenant or the external priviledges thereof but as they appear to be in Christ by some effect of faith declaring the same that you cannot make good from Scripture-light Mr. Cotton of infant bapt p. 56. l. 1 c. Hitherto of Church matter and Church-members Now out of this that hath been spoken I draw these plain positions with some inferences 1. The Church of the old Testament and new do not differ one from another in the qualification of their matter and members See the answer to the first question Therefore the Church of the old Testament consisted of visible Saints as well as the Church of the new 2. Sole want of grace doth not make a man uncapable of Church-membership unless ignorance and scandal do accompany it See the answer to the second and third question Therefore no man may be denyed membership because it doth not appear to the Church in the best judgement of charity and discretion thar he hath true saving grace 3. The members of the visible Church are Saints in respect of outward calling not inward inherent grace See answer to the four th question 4. The holiness from which the members of the visible Church are denominated Saints is not by imputation or regeneration but by separation to God and his worship See answ to quest 5. According to which Saul and Judas and Demas may be denominated Saints See answ to quest 6. Therefore all assemblies of people thus set apart to the worship of God are Churches of Saints and one Church may not say unto another stand apart from me for I am holyer then thou 5. The covenant of grace separates men and women from other people sets them apart to the Lord and his holy worship gives them right to holy priviledges denominates them holy or Saints See the answer to the fifth question Therefore the covenant of grace and not any other constitutes the Church and gives Church membership 6. Neither faith nor consent to the covenant is necessary to the bringing of men outwardly into covenant See the answer to quest 7 8. Therefore an explicite consent is not required to the constituting of a Church 7. The covenant of grace is applied to men not onely because they have faith and are converted but that they may have faith and be converted See answer to question 7. and 9. Therefore by a like reason men are to be admitted members of the Church not onely because they have faith and are converted but that they may have faith and be converted for the Church and the covenant are commensurate 8. Though Christ be a living head yet he counts it no dishonor to him to admit of dead members in his Church which is his mystical body as knowing how to glorifie himself in or by dead members See answer to quest 10. And though Christ be spiritual yet he doth not despise to take into covenant with himself those that are but natural See the answer to the 11. quest Therefore they arrogate to themselves to be wiser and holyer then Christ himself who despise and depart from Church assemblies and communion because of the mixture of those which are not spiritual and have nor the life of grace 9. Christ though he be married to the Church is not presently married to every member of the Church See answer to question 11. 10. Profession of faith in order to admission unto Church-membership is onely required of those that from Judaism and Paganism are converted unto Christ and not from such as being born in the Church are admitted in their infancy for their baptism seals to them their initiation into Church-membership See answer to question 12. Therefore it is an injury done to any that have been baptized in their infancy to deny them admission into the Church unlesse they make a profession of their faith and that before the whole Church 11. It is not the grace of faith but the doctrine of faith the profession whereof is required in Church-members See answer to question 13. Therefore it is irregular to put people upon the relation of the time and manner of their conversion 12. It were an inextricable perplexity to suspend the essence and validity of Churches and Church administrations upon the hidden sincerity of

but saith he Tell me 1 Tim. 5.20 Now this is sad when a man cannot bear reproof of others nor bear reproofs of Elders but turns again and will be judge in his own case though never so gross a sign of an extream froward high spirit Mr. Shepherd pag. 108. 7. They are to feed in power as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies every one in their places Hence when men despise their food and they are poor things they speak and they can see no matter in them and that after study prayers and tears and so cast it by that is to cast off the Lord when men grow glutted and full that they eat not a bit these things call for chains Mr. Shepherd pag. 109. Quest 25. But why are you thus large in setting out the work and power of the ruling elder Answ 1. Because the Apostle in many of his Epistles lays a special charge upon the people to have a care of the Officers Mr. Shepherd and obey them Heb. 13.7 17. It is twice repeated first least officers be sadded in their work that is heavy Secondly least it be unprofitable for you you think to get this and that good by it but it will be nothing in the conclusion 2. Because we lye under the slander of many and that godly as if Elders in Churches were but onely ciphers 3. Because people begin to run into extreams Elders taking all to themselves and people all to themselves 4. Because if here be not attendance you will quickly see the miserable ruine and fall of Churches more sad than the burning of Solomons temple It is observed of Jeroboam that when he stretched out his hand against the Lords Prophet it was withered but not when he sacrificed for the Lord will not bear here they may be despised and you may think your selves Kings without them 1 Cor. 4.8 and men will say so they may rule as they will but you will do as you list but the Lord will be provoked for this Mr. Shepherd his wholesome caveat for a time of liberty pag. 109 110. Quest 26. But seeing there is such plain ground in Scripture for the office of the ruling Elder and seeing it is so useful and necessary in the Church what is the reason there is so much gainsaying and opposing this office Answ 1. Mr. Hooker It is no wonder to see the contention grow so hot touching a ruling Elder because if he be confined within his compass the wings of the Pope and Prelate will be exceedingly clipped arid their power empeached Mr. Hookers Survey of discipline part 2 pag. 12. line 8. 2. All Satans subtilty lies here Disgrace the Elder saith one divide them saith another pull them down saith a third that there may be no King in Israel no nor in Sion that we may do what is right in our own eyes Mr. Shepherds wholesome caveat pag. 110. line 19. Quest 27. What say you of the other Officers called Deacons Answ Mr. Cotton All men do acknowledge them both to be instituted by Christ in the Scriptures Act. 6. 1 Tim. 3. and continued in the Church throughout all ages Mr. Cotton of the way pag. 38. line 7. Mr. Hookers Survey part 2. 32. Platform of discipline chap. 7. sect 3 4 c. Quest 28. VVhat is the Deacons office Answ His Office is to attend tables i. e. to lay out the treasury and revenue of the Church as may be behoveful 1. For to provide elements for the Lords table when that should be attended 2. For the table of the poor for all their wants that they may be supplied whether of their own bodie or strangers Mr. Cotton of the way pag. 38. line 26.3 For the table of the Minister whatever provision the Church shall put into their hands to be administred to them according to that debt which the Church owes them in way of wages Mr. Hookers Survey part 2. pag. 38. line 3. Quest 29. Is then the Ministers maintenance and the Poors to come all out of one stock or common treasury Answ Mr. Hooker 1. No for first all are not bound to pay it to the treasury of the poor but all are bound to pay to the maintenance of the Minister Gal. 6.6 2. People are bound to make their teachers partakers of all their good things not so the poor 3. This coupling of the poor and Ministers in one common treasury confounds the works of Justice and Mercy Mr. Hookers Survey of discipline part 2. pag. 30. line 23. Quest 30. VVhat was the chief aim of our Saviour in setting these officers in his Church Answ The chief aim of our Saviour under the glory of his name was to provide for the especial good of his elect yet because those his elect were mingled here with the wicked in the world nay many an elect child proceeds of a reprobate parent and because it is impossible for the eye of man to search into heart secrets and inward sincerity which is covered there but must judge of men and dispense Ordinances unto men according to the limits and laws of rational charity therefore it is that our Saviour hath bestowed these Offices as a royall gift upon the visible Church over whom he is a head Political by outward guidance and government as well as a head mystical by his special and spiritual conveyance of his grace Mr. Hookers Survey of discipline part 2. pag. 2. line 29. Hitherto of Church Officers c. now to draw some positions out of these particulars with inferences thereupon 1. Officers are ordinarily necessary to the calling of a Church and to the well-being of it when called Chap. 5. quest 1. answ Therefore the way of gathering or calling Churches as it is used here in England is preposterous where the Church calls and constitutes it self first and then afterwards constitutes an Officer or Officers 2. None can warrantably do any act that belongs to an office without a call to that office and if he do it is void and of none effect Yea it is a sacrilegious usurpation an Anabaptistical frenzy for private Christians to take upon them ordinarily to preach the Gospel publikely c. Chap. 5. quest 4 5. Therefore let the brethren of the Church-way consider their practice of sending out their private brethren and members to preach ordinarily in the Country Parishes how warrantable it is and if every act of an office done without a Call to the office be void and null whether such publike preaching of private Christians be not a taking Gods name in vain a mocking of God and the souls of his people and sacriledge instead of sacrifice 3. That famous text 1 Cor. 14.31 gives no countenance at all to preaching of private men and such as are not in office to quest 5. Obj. 1. 4. Christ hath appointed in his Church not one but many Officers Pastors Teachers Rulers and Deacons and none of these superfluous but all useful and needful all

binde notorious offenders and impenitents under censure and to forgive the repentant Mr. Cotton of the Keys page 13. But yet this enquiring and hearing is not to be understood as if the complaint were immediately and pro primâ instantiâ to be brought to the Church or Fraternity No but it is first to be brought to the Eldership prepared and ripened by them and by them related to the Church for the Elders before that have not onely examined the offender and his offence and the proofs thereof privately but do also publickly revise the heads of all the material passages thereof before the Church and do withall declare the counsel and will of God therein that they may rightly discern and approve what censure the Lord requireth to be administred in such a case Mr Cotton of the Keys page 14. line 36. Quest 15. But yet after the Elders have thus examined the case and declared their judgement concerning it the Church have yet a power to judge have they not Answ Yes but not as an act of rule and authority for there is a judgment of discretion by way of priviledge as well as of authority by way of sentence that of discretion is common to all the Brethren as well as that of authority belongs to the Presbytery of the Church In England the Jury by their verdict as well as the Judge by his sentence do both of them judge the same Malefactor yet in the Jury their verdict is but an act of Popular liberty in the Judge it is an act of his judicial authority Mr. Cotton of the Keys page 14. line 11. Quest 16. What is the difference then between the judgment which the Brethren passe in the censure of Excommunication and that which the Elders passe Answ Great is the difference For though the Jury have given up their judgment and verdict yet the Malefactor is not thereupon legally condemned and much lesse executed but upon the sentence of the Judge In like sort here though the Brethren of the Church do with one accord give up their vote and judgment for the censure of an offender yet he is not thereby censured till upon the sentence of the Presbytery Mr. Cotton Keyes page 14. line 20. Quest 17. Have then the Brethren no power of authority but only of priviledge and liberty Is not binding and loosing an act of authority and power to binde and loose given to the Church of Christ Answ The whole Church may be said to binde and loose in that the Brethren consent and concur with the Elders both before the censure discerning it to be just and equal and declaring this by lifting up their hands or by silence and after the censure in rejecting the offender censured from their wonted communion Idem line 4. Quest 18. Whither is this consent of the Brethren unto the judgement and sentence of the Elders concerning the Excommunication of a Member an act of authority or of obedience Answ The people give consent in obedience to the will and rule of Christ Hence is that speech of the Apostle we have in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your OBEDIENCE is fullfilled 2 Cor. 10.6 The Apostles revenge of disobedience by way of reproof in preaching doth not follow the peoples obedience but proceedeth whether the people obey it or no it was therefore their revenge of disobedience by way of censure in Discipline which they had in readinesse when the obedience of the Church is fulfilled in discerning and approving the equity of the censure which the Apostles and Elders have declared to them from the Word Mr. Cotton of the Keyes page 15. line 6. And if the people cannot convince the Elder of his errour or mistake in the sentence they are bound to joyne their judgment with his in the compleating of the sentence without impertinent questions needlesse scruples wilfull and disorderly gain-sayings Mr. Hookers Survey P. 3. page 42. line 7. Quest 19. But what if the case prove doubtful and there arise a difference between the Elders and the Brethren Answ If the case be doubtful and the difference grows wide and great it is then seasonable to crave the counsel and help of neighbouring Churches Mr. Hookers Survey part 3. page 40. line 15. Quest 20. May not the Brethren proceed to the sentence of Excommunication without the Elders Answ Excommunication is one of the highest acts of rule in the Church and therefore cannot be performed but by some Rulers Mr. Cotton of the Keyes page 16. line 6. Object But the twenty foure Elders who represent the private Members of the Church as the foure living creatures do the foure Officers had all of them Crowns upon their heads and sate upon Thrones which are signes of Regal Authority Answ The Crowns and Thrones argue them to be Kings no more than their white garments argue them to be Priests verse 4. but neither Priests nor Kings by office but by liberty to performs like spiritual duties by grace which others do by office and grace both Mr. Cotton of the Keyes page 16. line 19. Quest 21. What are the things or cases for which the censure of Excommunication is to be inflicted Answ It must not be for petty and small aberrations but for such evils as the mind and conscience of a man inlightned by the Church of God would condemn in himself or any upon the first serious consideration was his understanding left to the liberty of reason to act thereby and not crack-brained and perverted with prejudice and selfishnesse Mr. Hookers Survey of Discipline part 3. page 34. line 30. Quest 22. But tell us somewhat more particularly and expressely what is the matter of Excommunication Answ Such evils as are either heinous or abominable as fornication murder adultery incest treason or if not so grosse yet carry the face of evil in their fore-head upon the first serious and well-grounded consideration of reason and have been pertinaciously and obstinately persisted in after all means improved for their conviction and reformation Mr. Hookers Survey of Discipline part 3. page 34. line 37. Quest 23. You did a little above Quest 8 mention suspension as a censure distinct from Excommunication in what cases is that practised or used in the Church of Christ Answ In two Cases First thus Members born in the Church and having received their Membership in their infancy being grown to years of discretion must come to tryal and examination and manifest their faith and repentance by an open profession thereof before they be received to the Lords Supper or otherwise not to be admitted thereunto Platform of Discipline from New Eng. chap. 12. sect 7. see before chap. 3. Quest 5. though thy suspension be not strictly a censure being rather actus charitatis than potestatis and as they call it suspensio per modum cautelae Secondly thus while the offending brother lyeth under the censure of admonition he stands in the judgment of the whole Church as a convinced publick offender