1.13 by reason of some bonds by which they are united togethert And our brethren themselves do sometimes acknowledge an universall visible Church though usually they deny it as Apol. p. 16. 21. 37. 40. yea and officers too of that Catholique Church viz. Apostles and Evangelists which therefore whiles they remained baptized persons into that Church wheresoever they met with them without any respect to a congregationall Church as themselves acknowledge Nationall and Provinciall Churches much more an universall visible Church in any sense Ans to 9. Pos p. 62. 63. 66. Apol. p. 7. 23. R. M. to E. B. p. 2. Rob. justif p. 217. 3. Also they deny all f Yet sometimes themselves are forced to use Cōmissioners or Messengers to represent the whole body absent As at the constitution of any new church as after followes So in their private examinations of members to be admitted As after too Especially in their late Synod at Cambridge in N. E. And alwayes that part of the Church which is present includes others that are absent by representation and the males the women representative Churches whether the officers of one particular Congregation representing that Church in the judicature within it selfe or the Commissioners of severall Churches meeting together in a compound Presbyterie or Synod representing all those Churches by whom they are sent Rob. justif 162. 4. This particular visible Church they define to this effect It is a mysticall body whereof Christ is the head the members are Saints called out of the world and united together into g Here is intimated the number how many they may not be viz. not above one Congregation nothing said of the number how few But methinks regard should have been had of the one as well as the other left a gap be opened to cut and mangle the Churches of God into such small shreds as will not onely occasion numberlesse differences amongst themselves but also render them odious and contemptible to all men Which we see frequently fals out amongst the Brownists that follow the same church-courses as these our brethren do 2. Neither is here any mention of the church-officers as any part of this definition But how can this be a compleat organicall body fitted for exercise of all functions of the body where there are not some to be tongues and eyes as well as others to be hands and feet thereto i. e. some to rule as well as others to be ruled one Congregation by an holy Covenant to worship the Lord and edifie one another in all his holy ordinances Cott. cat p. 1. Answ to 32. q. p. 13. CHAP. III. Of the matter of a true visible Church what is required thereunto and how the same may be known 1. THe matter of a true visible Church is either infants or persons of age and understanding 2. In persons of age they require first that they be all reall h All the members of the visible Church should be Saints holy c. but there is an externall and federall holinesse 1 Cor. 7. and I reall internall holinesse That is absolutely necessary to Church estate this not what shall become of our intants else we shall exclude them as Anabaptists doe unlesse we fly to that shift which Rob. just if p 309. doth that all infants within the Church are truly converted and so as fit materials for a Church as the best elder people are 2. Reall and internall holinesse is doubtlesse required of all Church-members viz. in foro interno and unto acceptation with God but not in foro externo and unto admission into the Church 3. There is a double ought to be Saints or obligation to reall holinesse one morall vi praecepti because God hath commanded all his people to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1. another Physicall as absolutely necessary to the meere being of the Church and without which it were a false Church no Church In the former sense all are bound to be holy not in this latter R. For if it were so essentiall then either that all should be so holy or that some of them onely Not that all for then that would overthrow the truth not only of all the Churches in the world besides but also of their own too into which not only their reason but also their experience hath taught them that both hypocrites and hereticks may wind in themselves Nor that some of them onely For there is no more reason for some to be bound to be holy then for all Besides at the execting of some Church Suppose the first 7. or 8. that combine in Church-covenant should all prove hypocrites as t is not impossible but not as yet discovered whether is this a true visible Church or no And if another though a true beleever joyne himselfe to them is he a member of a true visible Church or no How shall he know his standing in that Church to be lawfull or how can he in faith continue in their fellowship partake with them in ordinances and submit to their censures or joyn with them in censuring of others seeing by this rule they being none of them true Saints but all hypocrites that their Church wanted true matter and so was uncapable of the true forme of a Church and therefore proves a false church and all their church acts and his with them are so many nullities usurpations prevarications 4. If none but reall Saints may be admitted then none but such may be retained will they then excommunicate all persons out of their church that live without scandall yet are not cenvincingly gracious Saints sincere beleevers not onely having common gifts but also saving graces that they be not common but choice Christians Ans to 32. q. p. 8. 9. Discourse of Cov. p. 4. Ans to 9. Pos p. 69. 70. Apol. p. 2. 6. 21. 43. Cott. cat p. 1. 4. R. M. to E. B. p. 5. 9. So Rob. just p. 11. 38. 41. 47. 48. 61. 91. 254. Yea convincingly such T. G. to J. G. Meek and humble spirits for feare they should abuse their Church-power E. O. to W. R. Voide of insincere ends in seeking of Church-Communion Discourse of Cov. p. 4. If any others should attempt to be admitted the Church were bound upon discovery to repell them Apol. p. 2. 3. 4. 5. 24. 33. 43. R. M. to E. B. p. 5. The reason of which is rendred lest they take an harlot into the bosome of Christ in stead of a chaste Spouse If any such be admitted they are not true but false matter of the visible Church 3. That the Church may consist of none but reall Saints so farre as in them lies they hold the Church is bound to make i Admit it were necessary ad esse ecclesiae that all the members should be really holy yet still the question might be by what rule wee should estimate that their holinesse whether by the rule of a large charitie which beleeveth and hopeth all things judging
venture further into the search of other mens hearts or in pose any thing upon their coÌ„scâ—encâ—s further then they have the mind of God to warrant them low termes that they may take men into Church-fellowship Ans to 32. q. p. 8. the knowne Godly are presently admitted upon their own desire W. T. to Mr B. saith If a man be humble and have an earnest desire though he be but in a waiting condition if in other things he make conscience of his wayes he knowes no man of wit will denie him to become a member The same man to P. H. If your ministers were here they would not think us too strict but too remisse in Discipline I think in time we shall grow like old England E. C. to R. C. But of their abatements see after more particularly 9. Thus far of the first which is the maine thing they require in persons to be admitted into Church-fellowship viz. true and reall Saintship A second is that they be such as can cleave together both in q This is very good comfortable when it may be had but suppose some differ from us in opinion in points inferiour may they not be admitted and tollerated in that so long as they be not turbulent or infectious And what if men be of more sowre and cynicall dispositions by nature must no body admit them into Church-fellowship must they and theirs be for ever kept out of the Church and from all Church-ordinances and priviledges though they should have truth of grace as 't is possible they may because of some invincible remaines of an harsh and crabbed constitution opinion and affection Discourse of Cov. p. 4. and that there be a sutablenesse and sweetnesse of spirit in them apt to close one with another J. Cott. notes of the Church in fol. p. 2 3. 10. A third is that they r Doubtlesse a good rule agreeing to Scripture Pattern and the reason good I could wish they that hold it forth so strictly to others did not needlesly swerve from it themselves For whereas our Law hath tyed all men dwelling within such and such precincts to meet together in such a place under such a Ministerie for Gods publike worship and exercise of Church duties some of them contrary to this good Law destroy these so far forth at least orderly consociations pull asunder our true though not pure Christian Churches and patch up others of their own making gotten some from one parish yea towne citie some from another dwelling many miles asunder and therefore seldome or never meeting together but at publike worship when they have both their holy-day clothes and courses on whereby other pastors are robbed of their sheep confusion is bred in the Churches the pattern of Scripture Churches is forsaken which ever describes the members of each Church by the place of their cohabitation and besides other inconveniences the maine end pretended for their so firme and close uniting by Covenant viz. mutuall watching over each other is utterly prevented cohabite together as neere as may be for their better mutuall watching one over another Discourse of Cov. p. 4. Cott. cat p. 5. 11. A fourth thing is they must be such as know what belongs to f Therefore if any man denie or but doubt of this Church-covenant viz. as distinct from the Covenant of Grace their Church doores are for ever shut against him God helpe me then Church-covenant and approve thereof J. P. to W. R. T. G. to J. G. 12. Lastly they must seeke and desire Church-membership and Church-fellowship viz. in their way of it Apol. p. 11.39 Discourse of Cov. p. 4. J.W. Ans to 10. Quest J.W. to T.S. Ans to 32. q. p. 8. Cott. cat p. 4. which if they doe not they account them t This is harshest of all the rest may not such forbearance proceed out of humilitie or modestie though unwarrantable ignorance or tendernesse of conscience as scrupling their covenant and the courses following it discouragement or the like Men forget the royall law of love To doe as they would be done to Some call sharply for charitie Charitie to themselves that shew but slender charitie to others despisers of it yea wicked and gracelesse persons and so unworthy of it Apol. p. 25 26 27 34. Ans to 9. Pos p. 69. Ans to 32. q. p. 21. J.W. ans to 10. quest Discourse of Cov. p. 28. N. Concerning the admission of infants see after in the 7. CHAP. of Admission c. CHAP. IIII. Of the Forme of the true visible Church 1. THey hold the Forme of a true visible Church of Christ is that which they call the u This point of church covenant is worthy of deepe consideration for it will touch the free-hold not onely of our English Churches but also of all the Churches in the world if this be the rule to try all Churches by Church-Covenant whereby all the members of the Societie are united to Christ and one to another which therefore they count absolutely necessarie essentiall and constitutive to and of the true Church Discourse of Cov. p. 5-15 Ans to 32. q. p. 9 39. Apol. p. 6 9 17 19 20 21 24 25 38 39. Cott. cat p. 4. Without this no true Church nor true Church members but all are harlots and concubines Apol. p. 20 24. Discourse of Cov. p. 14 18 19 20 21 24. Without it all men are without the Church for which they usually cite 1 Cor. 5.12 and uncapable of any Church priviledge Apol. p. 6 11 13 19 20 24 25 27 38 39 42. Discourse of Cov. p. 17 22 28. Ans to 32. q. p. 11 21 24 38. Ans to 9. Pos p. 69. So the Separatists Rob. justif p. 75 79 56 81 82 85 86 110 210 207 231 257 351. 2. No other tye nor all others imaginable without this they conceive are not sufficient to knit men together into one Church nor is there any other way of admission into the Church but by this Not visible profession and practise of truth and holinesse though never so compleat and sincere Therefore they say * A strange yet bold assertion spoken without proofe of Scripture consent of other Authours or good shew of reason Melchizedek was a Priest and therefore prayed preached and offered sacrifice but did he this by himselfe and for himselfe alone Can there be a Priest by office without a people Job and Melchisedek with others such eminently Godly were yet no members of the visible Church because not within this Church covenant Ans to 9. Pos p. 66. Discourse of Cov. p. 14. Ans to 32. q. p. 28 37. Nor x Robins justif p. 230 saith ' it s an Anabaptillicall errour to hold that Baptisme constitutes the visible Church I suppose his sense is the same with theirs when they say that Baptisme admits not into the visible Church The contrary whereunto I conceive is neither Popish nor Anabapt but may well passe for Orthodoxe
amongst them to such a perfect conformitie to their president In that they permit no man whatsoever to be a member in any of their Churches or partake with them in any Church-fellowship unlesse he exactly enter in their way of entring and walke in their order Nor will owne others as Sister-Churches that differ from them though but in some things in Church Discipline All which to be so will after appeare Is not this really a more rigid imposition of their pattern then any Church ever used in urging of their Plat-forme and that the more insufferable because in other Churches the rule is agreed upon and for the time at least fixed and publikely held forth in writing so that a man may understand before-hand what he binds himselfe unto and what he may looke for afterwards Whereas our brethrens course is held forth obscurely in practise only and how long that practise will continue uniforme in all their Churches yea or in any one of them he can have no assurance nor how often or how farre they may change he cannot tell so that he makes but a blinde bargaine at the best Obj. There is a Plat-forme sent over lately called The way of the Churches in N. E. Answ True but 1. that is but a meere relation of what hitherto they have practised without any obligation by vertue of any agreement to the same courses hereafter 2. It s compiled by one particular man not consented to by the rest as from thence we are informed and therefore warned by some of themselves so to look at it and no otherwise inconvenient if not utterly unlawfull at least so as to be imposed on the Churches as J. W. in ans to 10. Q. implieth where he saith We all walke in the same way but not by any publike and solemne agreement as prescribing to any what to doe See the Ans to 32. q. p. 63. 64. at large CHAP. II. Of the true visible Church of Christ in generall and the bounds thereof 1. THey currantly hold that there is no visible Church of Christ now in the dayes of the Gospell but a particular Church which may consist of a very small number as d Though it were granted that-there is now no visible church indued with power of Govern and in which Church Ordinances may bee administred for of such onely vve here speake but particular yet it may be a Quare 1. Whether so few as 7.8 or 9. may make up such a compleat organicall body fitted for exercise of Church power For suppose one of the 7. or 8. members of this Church offend his brother the brother offended admonisheth him he denies it one or two more of them must be called in to witnesse it yet he relents not one or two more yet must be joyned to the first the party offended to joyn in the second admonition yet still he is obstinate novv the matter should be brought to the Church who must be another company from the former for they are all plaintiffes or witnesses and therefore cannot be judges in the cause Also that Church must be in reason a greater body and of higher authoritie then the former but in this small number of 7. or 8. where will such a Church be found Therefore in a Church consisting but of 7. 8. or 9. no censure can passe much lesse any other Church act be sped Againe how can so few either imploy or ordinarily maintaine officers of so many sorts as themselves hold necessaried in every Church and if they cannot have officers how should they have Church Ordinances regularly 2. It may be a quaere whether this particular Church may lawfully be no more in number then one only Congregation since the Apostles Churches most at least if not all consisted of so many thousands as possibly could not meet all conveniently together in the same place and at the same times for all Gods publike Worship to Edification For which see more in Master Rutherfords and Master Bals late Treatises Neither doe we ever read of any more Churches in one place or citie and the neighbourhood but one which though multiplyed never so much yet was never subdivided into more Churches then one yet might be and were so many as possibly could not meet together in one congregation for Worship unlesse both the place were very spacious which usually they then had not withall the Minister that did officiate had both a bodie of brasse and voice like a Trumpet Men of ordinary strength not being able to speake audibly to above two or three thousand at the most and most men not to one Much lesse can half so many communicate at the Lords Table at once Besides how will ever any competent number in countrey villages and places lesse populous be ever joyned together into one Church especially if we be so curious in choice of our members as our N. E. brethren are Surely we must either take such inconsiderable numbers as they doe and as can neither imploy nor maintaine Church-officers which would bring with it unsufferable inconveniences or else they must be fetched from places so far distant as must force them either to travell far from their severall abodes to the same meeting place for worship Winter and Summer or else many of them to be without all Church-Ordinances or to enjoy them rarely the former of which is oppressive to their bodies the later injurious to their souls neither of them seemes sutable to the goodnesse and wisedome of God who as 't is said of the Sabbath hath made Church-ordinances for man not man for Church-ordinances But I intend no dispute I only propound my doubts 7.8 or 9. persons but may not exceed the number of so many as conveniently may and ordinarily doe meet together in one Congregation in the same place and at the same times for the solemne worship of God to their mutuall edification Ans to 32. q. p. 9. 10. 43. Cott. cat p. 1. Ans to 9. Pos p. 62. R. M. to W. R. H. W. to Master B. See Johns plea p. 250. Rob. Apol. p. 12. Rob. justif p. 107. 108. 111. 2. Therefore they deny all e True in such sence as the Jewish church was For they had a place of Nationall meeting the Temple a nationall worship in the sacrifices nationall officers the Priests and therefore at certaine times all the nation representatively in the males came up to that place and worship But though not in that yet in some other sense may be admitted both a Nationall Church and Provinciall yea and Diocesan too as a Domesticall Church Rom. 16.5 Philem. 2. As all the scattered Jewish Churches are called one flock 1 Pet. 5.2 and all the Gentilish Christian Churches present were called one little Sister Cant. 8.8 And the Jewish Christian Churches yet to come are called one Bride Revel 19.7 And the Scriptures oft speake of many Churches or all as one in the singular number 1 Cor. 10.32 Ephes 3.10 Gal.