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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77729	An answer to those questions propounded by the Parliament to the Assembly of Divines, touching jus divinum in matter of church-government. Wherein is clearly proved from Scripture, that the Presbyterial government is jure devino, of divine institution, and according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ. Licensed, and published according to order.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1646 (1646)	Wing B526A; Thomason E340_29; ESTC R38569	17,260	20

AN ANSWER To those QVESTIONS Propounded by the PARLIAMENT TO THE Assembly of Divines Touching JVS DIVINVM In matter of Church-Government Wherein is clearly proved from Scripture That the Presbyterial Government is Jure Divino of Divine Institution and according to the will and appointment of JESUS CHRIST Act. 14.23 When they had Ordained them Elders in every Church and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed Acts 5.38 39 43. And now I say unto you refrain from those men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found to fight against God And to him they all agreed c. Licensed and Published according to Order London Printed for WILLIAM LEY and are are to be sold at his shop at Pauls Chain neer Doctors Commons 1646. An Answer to those questions propounded by the Parliament to the Assembly of Divines LEst it should be thought presumption in any to undertake this work that are not of the Assembly who alone were appointed for it therefore I thought it needful to shew the Reader the Grounds and Reasons that moved me to it First it hath been long expected that the Assembly should give in their Answer and because it is not many of the Presbyterians are disheartned Secondly It hath caused others to contemn them saying The Assembly have now a Bone to pick Thirdly It hath caused many to turn to the Error of Erastus witnesse the late Petition to the Parliament Fourthly I am confident Gods people will rejoyce by whomsoever this work is done For these causes I undertook it not doubting but it will give satisfastion to many and be convincing to others FIrst I shall speak a few words to the Preamble wherein it is said to be resolved by both Houses That persons guilty of Scandalous offences should be suspended from the Lords Supper when as Christ alone is the King and Master of the Feast and hath Church-Officers as his Deputies in the Church whom he hath appointed to see and judge who are worthy and who are not and to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution for if any shall presume to come not having a Wedding garment the King will say to his Servants the Ministers Binde him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22.3 12 13. Luke 14.16 17. Whatsoever ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Mat. 18.18 Iohn 20.23 But Magistrates are placed by Christ in his temporal Kingdom and are called the Ordinance of man 1 Pet. 2.13 and appointed to govern the State and also by their positive Laws they are to be as a guide to the Church and may be instruments of much good to it so far as their positive Laws may reach about it but not as ruling Officers in it as shal more fully be shewn The first Question is Whether the Parochial and Congregational Elderships appointed by Ordinance of Parliament or any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divine and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ and whether any particular Church Government be Iure Divino and what that Government is I Answer If the first of these the Parochial Congregational Eldership be understood the Vicar or Curate together with the Churchwardens and Sidemen in the Parish being all under the Prel●tical Government being neither Scripture Names nor Officers but rather Antichristian Inventions these cannot properly be called Elderships seeing the Officers bear not the name of Elders these have been proved by many to be rather Antichristian then Iure Divino and seeing the main pillars of Antichrist are tumbled down these bearing his name shall tumble down together with him and I hope they need no further Answer The next thing considerable is Whether any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ To the first of these I Answer Negatively that there is no such Church in Scripture as they call Independent or Congregational Churches and the proving of this will satisfie that there Congregational Elderships are not Jure Divine of Divine Institution nor their Churches but to be demolished as the Prelatical for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Iob 14.4 I prove the point by this Argument If there be no Church in Scripture belonging peculiarly to one man as to Peter James or John and to bear his name to be called his Church as being peculiarly by him gathered as they say into a Church-way as the Independent Churches are both named and gathered then Independent Churches are not of Divine Institution and if not their Churches much lesse their Elderships But there is no shch Church in Scripture so gathered and so named Ergo The Independent Church-way is of no Divine Institution much lesse are their Elderships Jure Divino or according to the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The major part of the Proposition I suppose all men will grant and for the minor I shall prove by taking a view of those Scripture Churches which they chiefly would have to be Independent being of the first planting first that hundred and twenty names Acts 1.15 some of them have affirmed to be an Independent Church or Congregation because say they that 120. names was made up both of men and women Acts 1.14 Therefore say they it was an Indedependent Church To this I answer Those women there mentioned were not of this company for that were before this and those men and women there spoken of was at prayer together and it is very likely the cause of it was to seek the Lord for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse which was the choyce of another Apostle in stead of Judas for in those dayes it was said That Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty and he that is Judas was numbred with us but since he by transgression fell let another take his Office wherefore of those men numbred to be an hundred and twenty together which have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us from the Baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us must one be Ordained to be a witnesse with us of his Resurrection Ver. 21 22. Hence I gather That if the hundred and twenty names was all men as Peter here affirms then it was not that company that was at Prayer before for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse in the chusing of another Apostle in stead of Judas then this was not a single Congregation but it was the Officers were then assembled in a Presbytery upon the choyce of another

said to all the Ministery Mat. 16. Ioh. 20.23 Then I conclude that all the Members in the Presbytery so called by Paul 1 Tim. 4.14 The state of Elders Acts 22.5 And it is called The Assembly of the Elders Psa 107.32 Therefore they are all Iure Divino by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ But it may be some Independent will ask Why their Congregation belonging to one man is not of Divine Institution as well as a Presbyterial Congregation belonging to one man I answer There is this difference The Presbyterial Congregation is a part of the Universal visible Church as a branch of it which is descended from the first Christian Church although it passed under Antichrist and so was defiled yet still God had his Church amongst Papists and at the length brought it out of Babylon by Luther and others and our Ministers are descended from the Apostles whom Christ Ordained to Preach Mark 3.14 And they were sent into all Nations to convert men to the Christian Faith and they also Ordained Elders in every Church in every City or Town Acts 14.23 And after them they left others in their place to do it Tit. 1.5 And thus Church-Officers were Ordained by them of their own calling successively ever since although they passed under Antichrist till Luther renounced them and by him and others was brought out what they had from Christ and left what was of their own Invention and he caused them to protest against Babylon and so they were first called Protestants And then in Calvins time they made a Covenant to set up the true Discipline of Iesus Christ and we in this Kingdom have done the like both by a Protestation against Popery and a Covenant to set up the Discipline of Iesus Christ therefore our Congregations are of Divine Institution but Independent Congregations original descent is but from themselves and that within this few yeers to our knowledge Tradesmen have gathered many Churches but who sent those Tradesmen to Preach and how can they Preach unlesse they be sent Rom. 10.14 15. By what Authority do they Preach and who gave them that Authority Christ taught as one having Authority Mat. 21.23 24. 7.29 Then Independent Congregations are not of Divine Institution But they will say That our Parishes remain still as they did under Antichrist I answer Parishes were divided for better convenience of Publike Worship before Antichrist was in being when the Apostles gave order to set up Elders in every city Tit. 1.5 and they were bounded within a Sabboth dayes Iourney for Publike Worship Acts 1.12 And now Prelats cast out our Parishes remain in that first Institution for those Elders were bounded to that town or city where they were set up but Independent Congregations are boundlesse their Members thirty or fourty miles asunder that they cannot congregate together therefore they are not of Divine Institution The Parliaments third question is Whether the Supreme Assemblies or Elderships viz. The Classical Provincial and National Whether all or any of them and which of them are Iure Divino and by the appointment of Jesus Christ Their fourth question is Whether Appeals from Congregational Elderships to the Classical Provincial and National Assemblies or to any of them and to which of them are Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ And are their Powers upon such Appeals Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Their fifth question is Whether Oecumenical Assemblies are Iure Divino And whether there be Appeals from any of the former Assemblies to the said Occumenical Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Now the substance contained in these three questions is this First Whether Classical Provincial National or Oecumenical Elderships or Assemblies be Jure Divino Secondly Whether Appeals from Congregational Elderships to Classical Provincial and National Assemblies are Iure Divino or which of them or any of them to Oecumenical be Iure Divino and are their Powers upon such Appeals Iure Divino by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ To the first of these I have sufficiently proved That the Assembly of Elders and Presbytery are Scripture Names Psal 107.32 1 Tim. 4.14 And these I have shewed that they are frequently called the Church because they do represent it And now I shall prove That Appeals from the lesser Elderships to the greater is according to the Word of God and that their power is of Divine Right to suppresse Error and prophanenesse in case the Magistrate will not by his Positive Laws or to cast them out of the Church rather then the Ordinances of Christ should be polluted I prove it thus If there was Assemblies of Church Officers in the Christian Church who met together for this end then they ought to do so still and if there was Appeals from the lesser of those Assemblies to the greater in the Primitive Church it ought to be so still and if those Assemblies had power to make Decrees and passe Sentence and to binde several Churches to obey them it ought to be so still for we and all Christians pretend to be under the same Discipline of Christ as they were but some in the Christian Church at Antioch would still observe Iewish Cermeonies and they had no small Disputation about it and yet could not suppresse it being parties therefore they determined to send Paul and Barnabas to Ierusalem not to a single Congregation for advice and councel but to the Assembly of Apostles and Elders who came together to consider of that matter Acts 15.1 2 6. And I think there was but two Apostles there and so there was at Antioch only they were parties and so they were not at Ierusalem But some will say What if they will not come to the Assembly or Eldership how then can they suppresse Error or Prophanenesse I answer The Magistrate must by his Positive Laws command obedience to the Church and in case they will not obey the Magistrate he must punish them by his Positive Laws but in case the Magistrate will not do it then the Church-Officers have power to cast them out to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution So then if the Magistrate do his part and Assemblies of Church-Officers also do theirs this will sweetly settle peace among the Churches and this is according to the Word of Christ and therefore of Divine Institution And for the Names of those Assemblies let them be called by any names of distinction and it sufficeth I hope we shall not contend about Names but rather labor for peace and a sweet enjoyment of all the mercies of God both in Church and State The sixth Question is this Whether by the Word of God the power of Judging and declaring what are such Notorious and Scandalous Offences for which persons guilty thereof are to be kept from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and of Conventing before them trying and actual

suspending from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper such Offenders accordingly is either in the Congregational Eldership in Presbytery or in any other Eldership Congregation or Persons And whether such powers are in them only or any of them and in which of them Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ I answer to the first part of this question That Church Officers by the perfect rule of Gods Word have power to judge and declare what sins are scandalous for which those that are guilty are to be punished by the Magistrate but in case he will not do his duty then for the same Church-Officers have power to cast them out of the Church to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution some of them Paul mentions before his Institution of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11. such as these as Drunkennesse Heresie Divisions and Contentions and men wearing long hair and women with the hair out or uncovered all these must be Reformed for these are Scandalous and then there are inward sins as Ignorance not discerning the Lords body but the communicants must examine themselves of this and so let them Eat they are not to be cast out for Ignorance all did eat the Passeover and all them in the Primitive Church did receive the Supper Acts 2.46 20.7 Neither do I finde any such thing in Scripture as suspension from one Ordinance when they freely enjoy all the rest Neither do I finde such trying and conventing as in civil Courts they are not to cast out for private sins when a private trespasse was brought to the Church Officers Matth. 18.17 they could not cast him out but said to the Plaintiff Let him be to thee as a Heathen or a Publican that is Do thou keep no company with him Church-Officers must say as the Lord did I have not found it by secret search Ier 2.34 But when they declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not Isa 3.9 As Elies Sons did to make the offerings of the Lord to be abhor'd 1 Sam. 22.17 And when Phineas the Priest slew Zimry and Cozby Numb 25. And when Uzza was cast out of the House of the Lord 2 Chron. 26.21 And Christ whipt them out of the Temple all these need no witnesse but were cast out all but Elies Sons and because Ely the Priest did not do it to his Sons the Lord utterly cut off Elies house The next thing in this question is In whose hand is this Power To this I have answered In the hand of the Presbytery or Church Officers If the person be Scandalous to many Congregations the greater Presbytery is to cast him out but if in some Country town there be but one Church and the parties haunt be no further I suppose they may cast him out of their Church and not to suffer him to abuse the Ordinances of Christ but no other hath this power neither Independent Congregations nor Prelats for Presbyterial Church-Officers are only Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The seventh question is Whether there be any certain and particular Rules expressed in the Word of God to direct the Elderships or Presbyteries Congregations or Persons or any of them in the Exercise and Execution of the Powers aforesaid and what are those Rules I answer Paul saith in the Name of all Church-Officers We will not least of things without our measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us 2 Cor. 10.13 Then here all may see that they have a Rule and he saith Let us walk by the same rule Phil. 3.16 And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be unto them Gal. 6.16 Now by this Rule Paul judged though absent that the Incestuous person should be cast out and by the same Rule the Church-Officers of Corinth cast him out 1 Cor. 5.3.12 13. And if any shall say he spake to all in the Church I answer It was to give their consent but that punishment was to be inflicted by many but not by all see the same man cast out 2 Cor. 2.6 And he cast out Hymeueus and Philetus for blasphemy yet I suppose there was others with him though he passed the sentence 1 Tim. 1.20 And saith Paul He that troubleth you with the leven of Heresie shall hear his judgement whoever he be and I have confidence in you through the Lord Jesus that you will be none otherwise minded but give your consent I would they were cut off that trouble you Gal. 5.9 10 11 12. The eighth question is this Is there any thing contained in the Word of God that the Supreme Magistracy in a Christian State may not judge and determine what are the aforesaid Notorious and Scandalous Offences and the manner of Suspension for the same and in what particulare concerning the Prenises is the said Supreme Magistracy by the Word of God excluded I answer The Supreme Magistracy is to judge and determine of the same sins by the Positive Laws of the Land and punish the Offenders according to those Laws in the Temporal Kingdom of Christ but he may not judge and determine of them in the Church about casting out by Excommunication that is the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and his Church-Officers are Spiritual Officers and therein State Officers are excluded as I shewed before The ninth question is Whether the provision of Commissioners to judge of Scandals not enumerated as they are Authorized by the Ordinance of Parliament be contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and wherein they are so contrary I answer That Christ alone is to give both Offices and Officers and also their names but Christ never gave any such for his Church as Commissioners neither must Parliaments create any Names or Offices or Officers as their creatures to be set up and appointed their work in the Church it is a great affront to Christ the King of the Church to do it It is observable David saith Christ received gifts for men Psal 68.18 And then Paul saith He gave gifts to men Eph. 4.11 So then Christ as Mediator received those gifts of his Father and then gave them to his Church but there is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Iesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Then there was none but he that received those gifts for the Church and therefore no other can give them Again the Authority of the Parliament will not bear them out when Christ will disclaim them as Vsurpers whom he never palced in the Church And what profit or blessing to the Church can be expected from those that Christ never sent nor placed in the Church Again the Parliament that sent them are themselves placed by Christ in his Temporal Kingdom the State or Common-wealth to govern that and place Officers in it but they may not Ordain Church-Officers that must be done by Church-Officers and that successively from Christ who first Ordained the Twelve and then the Seventy and then the Twelve being sent to all Nations after his death they did Ordain Elders in every Church Acts 14.23 And then they left others to Ordain Elders successively Saith Paul I left thee to Ordain Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 And so it hath been by them successively to this day Then I conclude That for State-Officers either to Ordain Elders which ought to be in the Church or to create new Officers in the Church is contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and I have shewed wherein it is so contrary The tenth and last is onely a perswasion that those of the Assembly would set down their Names together with their Votes whether Affirmative or Negative to those former particulars and the clear Texts of Scripture on which their Opinions are grounded Now none but the last concerns me which I have done and if the Lord be pleased to set it home to the soul it may be conviction and satisfaction to it FINIS