in it the Saints whereof it was constituted with Bishops and Deacons Phil. 1. 1. But that Church being so compleat the Apostle appointed other particular Congregational Churches in the same Province who had Officers of their own with a Power of Government these he mentions and calls the Churches of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8. 1. 23. Wherefore we need no more Directions in this matter then what are given us by the Apostles Authority in the Name and Authority of Jesus Christ nor are concerned in the Practice of those who afterwards took another course of adding Believers from other places unto the Church first planted unless it were in case of a disability to enjoy Church-Communion among themselves elsewhere Whatever therefore is pretended unto the contrary we have plain Scripture evidence and practice for the errecting particular distinct Congregations with Power for their own Rule and Edification in the same Province be it as small as those that were of Samaria or Galile It cannot surely be said that these Churches were National wherof there were many in one small Province of a small Nation nor yet Metropolitical or Diocesan nor I suppose will it be denied but that they were intrusted with Power to Rule and Govern themselves in all ordinary cases especially when in every one of them Elders were ordained which the Apostles were careful to see done Act. 14. 22. This is the Substance of what we plead as unto particular Congregations 3. It is not probable that any of the first Churches did for a long time encrease in any City unto such a number as might exceed the bounds of a particular Church or Congregation For such they might continue to be notwithstanding a Multiplication of Bishops or Elders in them and occasional distinct Assemblies for some Acts of Divine Worship And it seems if they did begin to exceed in number beyond a just proportion for their Edification they did immediately erect other Churches among them or near them So whereas there was a mighty encrease of Believers at Corinth Act. 18. 10 there was quickly planted a distinct Church at Cenchrea which was the Port of the City Rom. 16. 1. And notwithstanding the great number of 5000 that were Converted at Hierusalem upon the first Preaching of the Gospel yet were they so disposed of or so dispersed that some years after this there was such a Church only there as did meet together in one place as occasion did require even the whole multitude of the Brethren who are called the Church in distinction from the Apostles and Elders who were their Governours Act. 15. 4 12. Chap. 21. 22. Nor was that Church of any greater Number when they all departed afterwards and went out unto Pella a Village beyond Jordan before the Destruction of the People City and Temple And though many Alterations were before that time introduced into the Order and Rule of the Churches yet it appears that when Cyprian was Bishop of the Church at Carthage that the whole Community of the Members of that Church did meet together to determine of things that were for their Common Interest according unto what was judged to be their Right and Liberty in those days which they could not have done had they not all of them belonged unto the same particular Church and Congregation But these things may be pleaded elsewhere if occasion be given thereunto But yet 4. I must say that I cannot discern the least necessity of any positive Rule or Direction in this matter nor is any such thing required by us on the like occasion For this distribution of Believers into particular Congregations is that which the nature of the thing it self and the Duty of men with respect unto the end of such Churches doth indispensibly require For what is the end of all Churches for which they are instituted Is it not the Edification of them that do believe They will find themselves mistaken who suppose that they were designed to be subservient unto the secular Interest of any sort of men What are the means appointed of Christ in such Churches for that end Are they not Doctrines and Fellowship breaking Bread and Prayer that is the joynt Celebration of the Ordinances of Christ in the Gospel in Preaching the Word Administring the Sacraments Mutual Watchfulness over one another and the exercise of that Discipline which he hath appointed unto his Disciples I desire to know whether there be any need of a new Revelation to direct men who are obliged to preserve Churches in their use unto their proper End to take care of such things as would obstruct and hinder them in the use of means unto that end of their Edification Whereas therefore it is manifest that ordinarily these means cannot be used in a due manner but in such Churches as wherein all may be acquainted with what all are concerned in the very Institution it self is a plain Command to plant erect and keep all Churches in such a state as wherein this end may be attained And therefore if Believers in any place are so few or so destitute of Spiritual Gifts as not to be able of themselves jontly to observe these means for their Edification It is their Duty not to joyn by themselves in a Church-State but to add themselves as Members unto other Churches and so when they are so many as that they cannot orderly communicate together in all these Ordinances in the way of their Administration appointed in the Scripture unto the Edification of them it is their Duty by vertue of the Divine Institution of Churches to dispose of their Church-state and Relation into that way which will answer the Ends of it that is into more particular Churches or Congregations I speak not these things in opposition unto any other Church-state which men may erect or establish out of an opinion of its usefulness and conveniency much less against that Communion which ought to be among those particular Churches or their Associations for their common Rule and Government in and by their Officers but only to manifest that those of the Non-conformists which are supposed to adhere unto the Institution of particular Churches in a peculiar way do not thereby deserve the Imputation of so great and intolerable a Guilt as they are here charged withal And whereas I have hereby discharged all that I designed with respect unto the first sort of Non-conformists as they are here distinguished I might here give over the pursuit of this Argument But because I seek after Truth and satisfaction alone in these things I shall a little farther consider what is offered by this Reverend Author unto the same purpose with what we have passed through So therefore he proceeds pag. 26. to pag. 27. If that of which we read the clearest Instances in Scripture must be the standard of all future Ages much more might be said for limiting Churches to private Families then to particular Congregations For do we not read of the Church that
the Faith in the bond of Peace This they would not have done if the Apostles had prescribed any one certain Rule of such things that all must conform unto especially considering how scrupulously they did adhere unto every thing that was reported to be done or spoken by any of the Apostles were the report true or false 3. In particular when a Difference fell out amongst them in a business of this nature namely in a thing of outward order no where appointed by the Authority of Christ namely about the Observation of Easter the Parties at variance appealed on the one side to the Practice of Peter on the other to the Practice of John both vainly enough yet was it never pretended by any of them on either side that the Apostles had constituted any Rule in the cafe and therefore is it not probable that they esteemed them to have done so in things of an alike nature seeing they laid more weight on this than on any other instance of the like kind 4. It is expresly denyed by good and Sufficient Testimony among them that the Apostles made any Law or Rule about outward Rites Ceremonies Times and the like See Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 21. However then the Apostles might by their Epistles and Presence with the Churches reform abuses that were creeping or crept in among them and set things in order among them with renewed Directions for their walking and that all Christians were obliged unto the Observation of those Rules as all those still are unto whom they are applicable in their circumstances yet all this proves nothing of their appointing such a general Rule as is pretended and such a Rule alone would be pleadable in this case and yet not this neither untill either it were produced in a Scheme of Canons or it were proved because they had power to make such a Rule so others may do the like adding unto what they prescribed leaving place unto others to adde to their Rule by the same Right and so endlesly The Truth is if God would be pleased to help us on all hands to lay aside Prejudices Passions Secular Interests Fears and every other distempered Affection which obstruct our minds in passing a Right Judgment on things of the nature treated on we find in the Text and Context spoken unto a sacred Truth divinely directive of such a Practice as would give Peace and Rest unto us all For it is supposed that men in a sincere endeavour after acquaintance with the Truths and Mysteries of the Gospel with an enjoyment of the Good things represented and exhibited in them may fall in some things into different apprehensions about what belongs unto Faith and Practice in Religion But whilest they are such as do not destroy nor overthrow the Foundation nor hinder men from pressing towards the Mark for the Prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus that which the Apostle directs unto them who are supposed to be ignorant of or to mistake in the things wherein they do differ from others is only that they wait for divine Instruction in the use of the Means appointed for that end practising in the mean time according to what they have received And as unto both Parties the Advice he gives them is that whereunto they have attained wherein they do agree which were all those Principles of Faith and Obedience which were necessary unto their Acceptance with God they should walk by the same Rule and mind the same things that is forbearing one another in the things wherein they differ which is the substance of what is pleaded for by the Nonconformists And that this is the meaning and Intention of the Apostle in this place is evident from the Prescription of the same Rules in an alike case Rom. 14. This the Reverend Author saw namely that the Rule there laid down is such as expresly requires mutual Forbearance in such cases where men are unsatisfied in Conscience about any Practice in Religion which seems in the same case to be quite another Rule than that which he supposeth to be intended in this place to the Philipians But hereunto he answers That the Apostle did act like a prudent Governour and in such a manner as he thought did most tend to the propagation of the Gospel and the Good of particular Churches In some Churches that consisted most of Jews as the Church of Rome at this time did and where they did not impose the necessity of keeping of the Law on the Gentile Christians as we do not find they did at Rome the Apostle was willing to have the Law buryed as decently and with as little noise as might be and therefore in this case he perswades both parties to forbearance and Charity in avoiding the judging and censuring one another since they had an equal regard unto the honour of God in what they did But in those Churches where the false Apostles made use of this pretence of the Levitical Law being still in force to divide the Churches and to separate the Communion of Christians these the Apostle bids them beware of them and their Practices as being of a dangerous and pernicious consequence Pag. 14 15. 1. No man ever doubted of the Prudence of the Apostle as a Governour though in this place he acts only as a Teacher divinely inspired instructing the Churches in the mind of God as unto the Differences that were among them 2. The Difference then among the Romans was about the Observation of the Mosaical Ceremonies and Worship that is so far as they might be observed in the Countreys of the Gentiles out of the Limits of the Church the Land of Canaan It could not be therefore concerning such things as whose Discharge and Practice was confined unto the Temple or that Land which yet the Jews of Hierusalem adhered unto Acts 20. 21 22 23 24. Their controversie therefore was principally about Meats and Drinks days of Feasting or Fasting and the like all founded in a supposed necessity of Circumcision 3. It is well observed by our Author that the Judaizing Christians which in all probability at this time were the greatest number at Rome the Gentile Church not making any great encrease before the coming of the Apostle thither did not impose the necessity of keeping the Law on the Gentile Christians at least not in that manner as was done by the false teachers who troubled the Churches of the Galathians and others so as to reject them who complyed not with them out of Church communion and from all hopes of Salvation But yet both Parties continued in their different Practices which through want of Instruction what was their Duty in such cases produced many inconveniencies among them as judging or despising one another contrary to the Rule of Christian Love and Charity In this state the Apostle prescribes unto them the Rule of their Duty which is plainly to bear with one another to love one another and according to the nature of
by the Courts of Bishops Chancellors Commissaries c. is unknown to the Scriptures and in its Administration is very remote from giving a True Representation of the Authority Wisdom Love and Care of Christ to his Church which is the Sole end of all Church Rules and Discipline The Yoke hereof many account themselves not obliged to submit unto 5. There is in such Churches a total Deprivation of the Liberty of the People secured unto them by the Rules and Practices of several Ages from the Beginning of choosing their own Pastors whereby they are also deprived of all use of their Light and Knowledge of the Gospel in providing for their own Edification 6. It cannot be denied but that there is want of due meanes of Edification in many of those Parochial Churches and yet provision is made by the Government that those Churches are under that none shall by any way provide themselves of better means for that great end of all Church Society It is on these and the like Reasons that the Non-conformists cannot joyn in total Communion such as the Rule pleaded for requireth with Parochial Churches In this state as was said the Lord Christ having Instituted particular Congregations requiring all Believers to walk in them it is the Duty of those who are necessiated to decline the Communion of Parochial Churches as they are stated at present to joyn themselves in and unto such Congregations as wherein their Edification and Liberty may be better provided for according unto Rule But hereon the Reverend Author proceeds to oppose such particular Congregations or Churches I think as unto their original and necessity for so he speaks page 25 to page 26. But I must needs say further I have never yet seen any tolerable proof that the Churches Planted by the Apostles were Limited to Congregations Howbeit this seems to be so clear and evident in matter of Fact and so necessary from the nature of the thing it self that many wise Men wholly unconcerned in our Controversies do take it for a thing to be granted by all without dispute So speaks Chief Justice Hobart page 149. In the Case of Colt and Glover cont Bishop Coventry and Litchfield And we know well that the Primitive Church in its greatest Purity was but Voluntary Congregations of Believers submitting themselves to the Apostles and after to other Pastors to whom they did Minister of their Temporals as God did move them Of the same Judgment are those who esteemed the first Government of the Church to be Democratical so speaks Paulus Sharpius In the beginning the Government of the Holy Church had altogether a Democratical Form all the faithful intervening in the chiefest Deliberations thus we see that all did intervene at the Election of Matthias unto the Apostleship and in the Election of the six Deacons and when St. Peter received Cornelius an Heathen Centurion unto the Faith he gave an account of it to all the Church Likewise in the Council celebrated in Jerusalem the Apostles the Priests and the other Faithful Brethren did intervene and the Letters were written in the name of all these three Orders In success of time when the Church increased in number the faithful retiring themselves to the Affairs of their Families and having left those of the Congregation the Government retained only in the Ministers and became Aristocratical saving the Election which was Popular And others also of the same Judgment may be added But let us hear the Reasoning of this Learned Author against this Apprehension this he enters upon page 26. It is possible at first there might be no more Christians in one City than could meet in one Assembly for worship but where doth it appear that when they multiplied into more Congregations they did make new and distinct Churches under new Officers with a seperate Power of Government Of this I am well assured there is no marks nor foot-steps in the New Testament or the whole History of the Primitive Church I do not think it will appear credible to any considerate man that the 5000 Christians in the Church of Jerusalem made one stated and fixed Congregation for Divine Worship not if we make all the allowances for Strangers which can be desired but if this were granted where are the unalterable Rules that assoon as the Company became too great for one particular Assembly they must become a new Church under peculiar Officers and an Independent Authority It is very strange that those who contend so much for the Scriptures being a perfect Rule of all things pertaining to Worship and Discipline should be able to produce nothing in so necessary a point I Answer 1 It is possible that an impartial account may ere long be given of the state and ways of the first Churches after the Decease of the Apostles wherein it will be made appear how they did insensibly deviate in many things from the Rule of their first Institution so as that though their mistakes were of small moment and not prejudicial unto their Faith and Order yet occasion was administred to succeeding Ages to increase those Deviations until they issued in a fatal Apostasy An eminent instance hereof is given us in the Discourse of Paulus Sharpius about matters Benificiary lately made publick in our own Language 2 The matter of Fact herein seems to me evidently to be exemplified in the Scripture For although it may be there is not express mention made that these or those particular Churches did divide themselves into more Congregations with new Officers yet are there Instances of the Erection of new particular Congregations in the same Province as distinct Churches with a seperate Power of Government So the first Church in the Province of Judea was in Jerusalem But when that Church was compleat as to the number of them who might Communicate therein unto their Edification the Apostle did not add the Believers of the adjacent Towns and places unto that Church but Erected other particular Congregations all the Country over so there were different Churches in Judea Galile and Samaria that is many in each of them Act. 9. 31. So the Apostle mentions the Churches of God that were in Judea 1 Thes 2. 14. And no where speaks of them as of one Church for Worship Order and Government So he speaks again that is constantly Gal. 1. 22. I was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea And that these Churches were neither National nor Diocessans but particular Congregations is as I suppose sufficiently evident So was it in the Province of Galatia there is no mention of any Church therein that should be comprehensive of all the Believers in that Province But many particular Churches there were as it is testified chap. 1. ver 2. So was it also in Macedonia the first Church planted in that Province was at Philipi as it is declared Act. 16. And it was quickly brought into compleat Order so as that when the Apostle wrote unto it there were