constant carrying on of the Publick Worship of God such Churches are acknowledged in the greatest Part of Protestant Churches but some in latter times do make a Question whether there be any such Churches That there are National Churches does appear First from the light of Nature the light of Nature teaches us that Man was made for the Worship of God that Man is fitted for Society and the great end why he is so is that in Society he may carry on the Worship of God and as the light of Nature teaches us that lesser Societies ought to carry on the Worship of God in Conjunction so that Kingdoms and Countrys should joyn together in promoting and advancing the Worship of God it is most agreeable to the light of Nature that they that are one People should Unite together in carrying on Gods Worship and should have Power to regulate and govern the several parts of that Body Nature teaches that every Kingdom should see that the Worship and Ordinances of God be attended in the several Congregations therein 2 dly From Gods appointing the Nation of the Jews to be one Church Act. 7.38 And God has not appointed any new forms of Churches in the times of the New Testament there are no other kinds of Churches appointed now Congregational Churches are no new kind of Churches but according to the Old Institution for evâ—…y Synagogue of the Jews was a Congregational Church they had Ecclesiastical Rule and Government in them they are called Churches by Christ Matth. 18.17 That the Old Testament Institution doth continue still appears partly because the Christian Churches of the Jews were subordinate to the National Church of the Jews they were Members of the National Church and did attend Jewish Ordinances and thâ—…fore by Institution Christian Congregations are not absolute but Subordinate to a National Church it is further evident because the Jewish National Church did not cease as their Ceremonies did because their Date was out but because they rejected Christ Rom. 11.20 Had they kept Gods Covenant they would have continued a National Church to this Day 3 ly From the Publick Covenant that is between God and a professing People God made a Publick Covenant between him and the People of Israel wherein he engages publick Prosperity unto them upon condition of their obedience and all professing Countries are under the same Covenant for substance the promises and so the threatnings declared are of force unto the end of the World and we have the like encouragement to obedience that they had and are in the like danger in case of â—…sobedience God deals with professing Countrys at this Day according to the Tenor of that Covenant those promises will never be out of Date to the end of the World God makes the same to Israel with respect to the time of their Restoration this abundantly Witnesseth that every Christian Nation is a Church if God hath made a Covenant with them upon condition of obedience then they are a Society in Covenant with God then they are one body in Covenant with God and the whole hath Power over the parts and they are invested with sufficient Authority to see the Covenant kept If they were in Covenant and had not Power to make the several parts to keep Covenant the Covenant would be a snare to them particular Societies might bring guilt upon them and they would have no Power to remove it if they be all engaged in one individual Covenant the Country hath Power to regulate all Maleadministrations that any of the parts are guilty of if they are in one individual Covenant they are as one body Expoused by God the People of God the flock of Christ and therefore one Church here is all that made Israel to be a Church therefore such a People are a Church 4 ly From the promises that God hath made of making Gentile Nations to be his People God did not only promise to set up soâ—… Churches among the Gentiles but to take whole Nations into Covenant with himself Isa 24.22 And it is expresly foretold by Christ that whole Nations should receive the Gospel and become Churches Matth. 21.43 Yea the Scripture declareth that when Israel is Converted they should be in the same Covenant as formerly the same promises are made to them in Eâ—…iel as the Fruits of their obedience as were made to them in Deutrenomy and if the whole Jewish Nation will be one Church when they are restored then it will be so with every other Christian Nation the difference between Jews and Gentiles is now abolished 5. Because the supream Ecclesiastical Authority doth not lye in particular Congregations if there be no National Church then every particular â—…ngregation is absolute and independant and not responsable to â—…y higher Power This is too Lordly a principle it is too ambitious a thing for every small Congregation to arrogate such an uncontroulable Power and to be accountable to none on Earth this is neither a probable way for the Peace of Churches nor for the safety of Church Members appeals 〈◊〉 admitted in all Kingdoms and it is more probable that in a whâ—… Country Persons may be found that may rectify the Miscarriaâ—… of particular Congregations then that particular Congregations will not miscarry this absoluteness of particular Congregations is a dignity that the primitive Churches did not enjoy this is not the common Priviledge of Gospel Churches the primitive Churches were under the Government of the Apostles and it seems that God gave them this Power because the ordinary way of Government could not then be practised the greater part of all Gentile Nations lying in their Heathenism Obj. 1. We don't find in the New Testament any National Church among the Gentiles Answ The reason of that is not that National Churches are not according to the mind of God in the Days of the New Testament but because there was no Nation that did receive the Christian faith Tho there were many Congregations gathered among the Gentiles yet there were very few of them comparitively that did entertain the Gospel the bulk of all the Gentile Nations lay in their Heathenism during all that time that we have the History of in the Scriptures Obj. 2. God hath not appointed in the New Testament any National Officers as the High Priest in Israel nor any National place of VVorship as Jerusalem therefore there is no National Church Answ 1. To have one National Officer over the â—…le is not essential to the being of a National Church Israel was a National Church when they had no such National Officers while the first Born did Exercise the Office of the Priests before the separation of the Levites to that work There be several sorts of civil Government none of which are essential to a Republick The being of a National Church doth not necessitate this or that form of Government If there be a National Church it follows that there must be some to Rule over the whole
but that this Power should reside either solely or principally in one Man doth not follow at all It was suteable to the State of the Jewish Church that there should be one supream Officer to be a Type of Christ but now there being no such occasion the Church may be governed withoâ—… any such 2. To have one National place of Worship is but â—…cidental to a National Church Israel was a National Church in Egypt yet had no National place of Worship all the Worship of God besides that which was tipical might be attended in their Synagogues The not having a National place of Worship is no hinderance to their being Governed by a Natiâ—… Authority There may be a National Government as well wiâ—… as with a National place of Worship This National Church is to be divided into provincial and those again subdivided into Classical The Light of Nature teaches us to make such Divisions of great Political Bodies that Government may be more easily managed Natural prudence teaches Men in the civil State to make such Subordination of Courts of Justice for the benefit of the Common Wealth This is according to the Counsel which was given to Moses by his father in â—aw and approved by God Exod. 18. By the same Rule that the whole is to Rule over the parts the greater parts are to Rule over the lesser parts for a greater part is an whole respecting the lesser parts into which it is divided A County is a part with respect to a Province but an whole with respect to the several Congregations therein and accordingly may Exercise Government over them yet with Subordination to that Authority that is over the whole A gradation both in Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority is founded in the very Law of Nature Obj. If we grant a National Church under the Gospel we may as well grant an Oecumenical Church those that plead for the Jurisdiction of Synods refer things at last to the Judgment of an Oecumenical Synod Answ 〈◊〉 is no such thing as an instituted Oecumenical Church there is a â—…lick Church but that Notes all those that profess the true Religion but there is no Instituted Oecumenical Church for the several Christian Nations are not in the same Covenant they are indeed in the same special Covenant but not in the same individual Covenant so it is here one Nation may keep Covenant while other Nations brack Covenant Neither is there any Institution for Oecumenical Synods if they could convene they have no Authority their consultations might be of some use to others but they have no Authority A National Synod is the highest Ecclesiastical Authority upon Earth CHAP. IX Of the Government of National Churches SUch Protestants as have acknowledged National Churches have been divided about the form of Government to be practised among them some of them are for a mixt Government partly by Arch-Bishops and Bishops and partly by Synods so the Church of England Some have Governed by a Synod alone so the Church of Scotland and this Government seems most Consonant to the Word of God Synods have been generally acknowledged in all Churches but upon differing grounds some have founded them upon that Rule of prudence Prov. 24.66 In the Multitude of Counsellers there is safety but if they be grounded upon this they have no other work but to counsel and advise and they can have no Authority all Ecclesiastical Authority does depend upon an Institution their Authority must be derived from God Some do found it upon that Example Act. 15. But this was not properly a Synod this was not the meeting of the Elders of many Churches but of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Jerusalem together with the Brethren yet no doubt but the Apostles who were part of that Assembly had the Power of a Synod But the Foundation of Synods is partly that Publick Covenant which is between God and his People partly his Institution in the Old Testament and partly the Rules laid down for the Churches to walk by in the New Testament 1. This Publick Covenant shews that the whole must Rule the parts The Rule and Government doth fundamentally belong unto the Church the Church hath a right to Govern it self Thus it is Originally with all Nations as to their civil Government so also as to Ecclesiastical and therefore the Exercise of this Government must be in the hands of some that do legally represent the whole if it be not by some that represent the whole then the whole do not Govern the Rulers must be the representation of the whole Church Thus it is with a Synod they are either the Elders of the several Churches if the Country be not too Numerous or such as are chosen by the Elders if the Country be large and numerous and these are a legal representation of the Churches the Elders of the Churches are chosen to thâ—… Office to be Rulers of the several Churches and in case there be need They have Power to select out of themselves such a Company as may conveniently meet with whom their Power shall be entrusted The Light of Nature teaches that the Government must be committed to such a Number as shall not be uncapable by reason of their Number to assemble and discourse together for otherwise the Government of the Church would not be a thing practicable Thus it is not with Bishops they do not legally represent the Church for they are not chosen by the Church they are not Persons elected by the Church to Act in their behalf but are put into their Office by civil Authority and how can they represent the Church who do not desire any Authority from the Church and secondly their Office is not of Divine Institution and how can they who are not of Divine appointment legally represent the Church Those whose Office is not acknowledged in the Law of God cannot legally represent the Church of God 2. The Church of the Jews was Governed by a Counsel of seventy two Persons Some are of Opinion that the Jews had both an Ecclesiastical and a civil Sanedrim this is evident that in Christs time they had a Councel that did consist in a great part of the Priests Act. 14.6 and 22.30 And that God appointed the Priests and other Judges to joyn together in hearing of Controversies Deut. 19.17 So also that there was an assembly of the chief of the Priests and Levites appointed by Jehoshaphat to hear Ecclesiastical causes 2 Chron. 19.8 And that the High Priest was over them in those Ecclesiastical causes v. 11. By these things it is evident that the Church of Israel was Governed by an Assembly of the Principal Men of the Church Christ Jesus doth approve of their form of Government that was in his time Matth. 23.2,3 By Priests Scribes Pharisees By this it is not only evident that the Government of a National or Provincial Church by an Assembly of its Principal Elders is a proper suteable and hopeful way
but likewise that this way is to be observed in Christian Nations seeing no other Provision is made for their Government many of the appointments that God made for the Jewish Church do continue in force still and this among the rest no other Provision being made yet it does not follow that our Assemblies must have any standing president as the Jewish Assemblies had their High Priest who was their president and was a Type of Christ neither does it follow that we are limitted to the same Number that they were Circumstances being a sufficient reason for a variation in such cases 3. The appointment of Christ that Teaching and Ruling Elders should Govern the Church shews the Power of Synods these are appointed by Christ to be the Rulers of the Church 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 There are no other appointed to be Rulers of the Church since the Age of the Apostles therefore the Government of the National Church must be in their hands none but they have any Interest in the Publick Government there is no Warrant from the Word of God to intrust the Government in the hands of any others and there is sufficient Warrant for them to take upon them the Government of the National Church and this by Virtue of their Office If there be a Publick Covenant every Church is bound in Conjunction with others to see the Covenant kept and their Rulers with whom their Power is intrusted are bound by Virtue of their Office to joyn with others to see their Covenant kept so that their Acting in a synod is not by Virtue of any New Office A Minister by Virtue of his Ministerial function hath Power in Conjunction with others to Govern the National or Provincial Church Obj. If Ministers have a Bond upon them to joyn with others in the Rule of the National or Provincial Church then they seem in their own Persons to be bound to attend that Service which if all should do in National Synods the Synods would be so large a Body that they could not Discourse together and it would be an intollerable prejudice to their Congregations being much deprived of their Labours Answ The Power of Intrusting delegates is Warranted by the Light and Law of Nature there being a necessity of it for the good Government of Societies and there is no necessity of a particular Institution in this case the necessity of humane affairs does require that Government be intrusted with such a Number that it may be managed to advantage to the Publick neither is there any hazard of being involved in guilt by such a method a select Number of the most Prudent and Holy of the Elders are as likely to Govern the Church according to the mind of God as the whole Body of the Elders of a Nation CHAP. X. Of the Power of Synods THE Power of Synods doth consist principally in these things 1. They are to teach the People they are to hold forth Light unto the Church that was a part of the work of the Sandedrim at Jerusalem to teach the People the will of God Matth. 23.2,3 That was the special work of the Levites Deut. 33.10 That Assembly mentioned Act. 15. Met together to give Light to the People of God It is very meet that Synods do Publish confessions of faith not only to bear Testimony to the World and other Christian Kingdoms of their acknowledging the Truth but especially to be a Light unto the Churches to guide them in the way of Life this hath generally been practised by the Synods of the reformed Churches They should particularly Vindicate the Truth and bear their Testimony against those Errors that are Springing up Act. 15.24 It is meet also in case of Corruptions in manners that they do declare what the mind of God is and Vindicate the Rule that if it be possible they may root out such Licentious principles as are prevailing amongst the People and advise them to repent of such degeneracies as bring down the Judgments of God Yet no Man is bound to receive the Doctrines or practise the Rules held forth by a Synod because they are taught by them A Synod is not infallible and therefore no Rule or Doctrine is to be taken up on trust from them Men do owe that respect to a Synod as 't is an Ordinance of God solemnly to weigh the Doctrines held forth thereby but they are not to receive them by an implicite faith we are bound to prove all things and if a Man do practise against the Light of his own Conscience because a Synod hath otherwise determined he greatly sins Rom. 14.23 The Synod may direct him in a wrong way and no Man can be bound to any thing that God has forbidden Deut. 13.3 2. They are to bind and loose to inflict Ecclesiastical censures or to take them off the supream Ecclesiastical Authority must have Power of Judgment that so there may no publick guilt lye upon the Church if they have not Power of Judgment Particular Persons may be oppressed by the rigour of Presbyteries and many irregularities committed by the Church whereby the Country doth become guilty and there would be no sufficient way to deliver the Land from guilt Synods have Power to Admonish to Excommunicate and deliver from those censures and every Man must stand to the Judgment of the National Synod Deut. 17.12 They are to Judge in case of Complaint when any Person Judges himself wronged by the Judgment of a particular Church and complains to a Synod they are to hear the case and upon the hearing of it not to advise the Church either to confim the sentence or to take it off but if there be occasion they are to take off the sentence and restore the Man unto his priviledge They are to judge in case of other Complaints if any Man hath a Complaint against another and cannot obtain a hearing in the Church that he belongs unto or if the Elders of a particular Church be Complained of for any Male-Administration or if a Church with the Elders be complained of for Heresie or other scandalous Corruption the Synod is to hear and Judge the case and they may not only censure particular Persons but whole Churches also in case of need 3. Synods have Power to oversee the calling of Persons to the Ministry and to appoint those who shall examine them if the Synod have the Government of the Church in their hands tho they should not abridge Congregations of their Liberty yet they should see that Churches Act regularly and that none should be set in the Ministry but such as are duely qualified therefore it belongs them to appoint meet Persons to examine such as are called to the Ministry and to testify their approbation by the laying on of hands Tit. 1.5 The appointing of Ceremonies of Worship is properly the work of Jesus Christ the making of orders concerning the external concernments of the Church is properly the work of the Civil Magistrate but the appointment of such as shall oversee the calling of Persons to the Ministry doth properly belong to the Ecclesiastical Authority FINIS