of fellowship and so receive them to all Brotherly communion in the Lord amongst the rest of the Churches and this agreeth with the last part of the fift Proposition So when the day appointed for the Church-gathering is come the persons deputed from the neighbouring Churches are present who commonly be the teaching and ruling Elders and as many also of all sorts as are willing to partake with them at that time the whole day is kept as a day of humiliation especially the former part of it in seeking the face of God in prayer and preaching the Word according to the former part of the fift Proposition the Brethren of the Church to be gathered selecting some chiefe one among themselves to be their mouth for those services which done then on the latter part of the day one of them appointed and chosen by themselves to order the worke of the day standeth up and addresseth himselfe with the rest of his Brethren to make profession of their faith and repentance before the Lord and before the whole Assembly according to the fourth Proposition This done with the silent approbation of the whole Assembly he propoundeth the Covenant of promise Eph. 2.12 denying also any sufficiency in themselves to keepe Covenant with God as having been transgressors from their youth up they professe in the name of Christ their acceptance of the Lord for their God and the Lord Jesus the head and Saviour of his Church to be their King Priest and Prophet and give up themselves in professed subjection unto all his holy Ordinances according to the Rules of the Gospel withall they professe their full purpose of heart to cleave one to another in Brotherly love and mutuall subjection according to God not forsaking their Assembly but as the Lord shall call and ministring one to another as becometh good Stewards of the manifold graces of God till they all grow up to a perfect man in Christ Jesus Having thus or to the like purpose propounded the Covenant himselfe with the rest of the Brethren who are to joyn in Church-estate they all declare their joynt consent in this Covenant either by silence or word of mouth or writing Then the Brethren of other Churches finding the presence of God accepting them by the heavenly fire of his Spirit come downe amongst them in their performance of their holy duties they appoint some from amongst them in the name of all the Churches from whence they come to reach forth unto them the right hand of fellowship testifying their proceedings to have been according to God and the Churches acceptance of them into brotherly fellowship and exhorting them to stand stedfast in the Lord and to grow up in holy fellowship with him and one with another and with the rest of the Brethren of all the Churches according to these beginnings And so prayers being made unto God for the pardoning and acceptance of this people and of all the duties of the day as also for his blessing upon themselves and all the Churches both in this Countrey and throughout the world especially in England a Psalme of praise is sung Quest What could be done more if a Church were to be gathered out of Infidels Answ 1. If a Church were to be gathered out of Infidels they were first to be converted that they might become beleevers and so fit materialls for Church-fellowship before any of these could be done by them whereas these here spoken of are persons converted already If it be said againe But are not all Baptized persons fit for Church-fellowship as all Circumcised persons were admitted to the Passeover Answ There is a difference between the Passeover whereto all Jewes were admitted young and old unlesse defiled with some pollution and the Lords Supper whereto persons of growner yeares and fit to examine themselves are invited and therefore neither children nor ignorant persons nor prophane nor scandalous persons are admitted to the Lords Table nor into Church-fellowship If it againe be Objected But are not all Baptized persons Church-members already by their Baptisme Answ No. 1. Papists and other notorious Hereticks are Baptized 2. And many in other Churches have cut themselves off from the Covenant by their notorious wickednesse and prophanenesse Psal 50.16 3. A Church Relapsed with all the members of it before they can be accepted with God in their Church-fellowship are bound to renew their Covenant which is as it were a new entring into Covenant the same which in effect is done with us 4. Though godly men Baptized members of a pure Church are to be accounted Church-members as long as they continue their habitation and election to that Church yet severall Baptized persons broken off from their severall Churches to which sometimes they did belong and now meeting accidentally in one place are not therefore one Church anew amongst themselves unlesse they will imagine that Chimaera of an universall visible Church CHAP. II. Touching Church-Officers with their election and ordination SECT I. THE Church being thus gathered as hath been described our next care is that it may be supplyed with all those Officers and members which Christ hath ordained to continue in his Church untill his second comming for they are all given for the edifying and perfecting of his body untill we all grow unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Eph. 4.11 12 13. The Apostles Prophets and Evangelists they still continue in their writings to be Master-builders of the Churches in all ages and therefore the Church is said to be built upon their foundation that is upon the foundation which they by their writings have laid Eph. 2.20 but in their Successors in the same eminent calling they continue not whence the Apostle speaketh of himselfe and Barnabas as the last Apostles 1 Cor. 4.9 And when the new Jerusalem the Church of the Jewes commeth to be planted it is not said to be planted by new Apostles but by the former twelve Apostles of the Lambe Rev. 21.19 to wit by them in respect of their Doctrine still left behinde them in their writings It remaineth therefore that the ordinary Officers of the Church which are to continue to the comming of Christ Jesus are either Elders whom the Apostle calleth also Bishops Tit. 1.5.7 Act. 20.17.28 or Deacons of Elders he maketh two sorts one sort he calleth them that rule the other them that labour in the Word whether of Exhortation as the Pastors or of Doctrine as the Teachers 2 Tim. 5.17 For the two sorts of ordinary preaching Elders the Apostle calleth Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 And such severall kindes of labouring in the Word by the one in a word of Exhortation by the other in a word of Doctrine the Apostle expresly holdeth forth Rom. 12.7 8. He that teacheth saith he let him waite on teaching and he that exhorteth on exhortation which argueth a difference of their functions by the distinction of their proper or especiall actions If it be said the
the direction of the Word Elders according to 1 Tim. 3.2 to 7. Tit. 1.6 to 9. Deacons according to Acts 6.3 1 Tim. 3.8 to 12. For the Church hath not absolute power to choose whom they list but ministeriall power onely to choose whom Christ hath chosen hath gifted and fitted for them If the Church can finde out none such in their own body they send to any other Church for fit supply and each Church looketh at it as their dutie to be mutually helpfull one to another in yeelding what supply they may without too much prejudice to themselves according to Cant. 8.8 9. Such being recommended to them for such a work they take some time of tryall of them partly by their owne observation and communion with them partly by consultation with the Elders of other Churches continuing there in so great a work to fulfill the command of the Apostle Lay hands suddenly on no man 1 Tim. 3.22 For every man of good gifts is not alwayes endowed with an honest and good heart and every good heart is not fitted to close so fully as were meet with every good people Every key is not fit to open every Lock nor every good mans gift fit to edifie every people But when upon tryall the Church doth finde every mans spirit among them desirous of the fellowship of the man and his gifts then they agree amongst themselves upon a certain day wherein in a solemne manner they intend to Elect him to office amongst themselves Of this they give notice to all the neare adjoyning Churches whom and when and to what office they intend to choose such a man whom they nominate to them intreating their presence and brotherly counsell and assistance at the day appointed They give notice also thereof unto the Governour and such other of the Magistrates as are near to them that the person to be chosen meeting with no just exception from any may finde the greater incouragement and acceptance from all When the day is come it is kept as a day of humiliation with fasting praying and preaching the Word according to the patterne Act. 14.23 13.1 2 3. Towards the end of the day one of the Elders of the Church if they have any if not one of the graver Brethren of the Church appointed by themselves to order the worke of the day standeth up and inquireth of the Church If now after this solemne seeking of God for his counsell and direction in this weightie work they still continue in their purpose to elect such a one for their own Pastor or Teacher or Ruling Elder whom before they agreed upon Then having taken their silence for a consent to their purpose He proceedeth to inquire into the approbation of the rest of the Assembly not onely the Messengers and Brethren of other Churches present but of all that stand by because and Elder is to be a man of good report of them that are without 1 Tim. 3.7 how much more well approved of the Churches of Christ He demandeth therefore of the Churches first and then of the rest whether any of them have knowne of any evill in the man presented before them either in judgement or practice which might give them just cause to forbeare his election If all keepe silence as usually they doe for if any have any just exception against the man he is wont to acquaint some or other of the Church with it before the day he turneth himselfe to the Church againe Now seeing all is clear for their free election of him to such an office he desireth all the Brethren of that Church to declare their Election of him with one accord by lifting up their hands which being done he desireth to know of the partie chosen whether he doth accept of that calling which the Church hath given him in the name of Christ unto that office He having expressed his acceptance upon such grounds as wherein he hath chiefly seene the hand of God leading him thereunto the Elder doth then admonish the Church what duties the Lord requireth of them all in his Word towards him whom they have thus chosen And afterwards advertiseth him what duties the Lord requireth of him in that place towards the Church And having taken the acknowledgements of them both of their mutuall dutie towards one another He then with the Presbytery of that Church if they have any if not two or three others of the gravest Christians amongst the Brethren of that Church being deputed by the body doe in the name of the Lord Jesus ordaine him unto that Office with imposition of hands calling upon the Lord who hath furnished him with spirituall gifts and bowed the hearts of the Church to call him to that office to accept and owne him therein to enlarge his heart and spirit according to all the duties thereof to breath in all his administrations and to guide and blesse all his going out and coming in before them And so turning his speech upon the person on whom their hands are imposed He as the mouth of the Presbytery expresseth their ordination of him to that office in the name of the Lord Jesus and puts a solemne charge upon him to looke well to himselfe and to the whole flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an overseer as one that must give account of all their soules unto the great Shepheard of the sheep at the day of his appearing After this the Elders of their Churches present observing the presence of God both in the duties of that day performed by the Officer then chosen and ordained and in the orderly proceeding of the Church to his Election and Ordination one of them in the name of all the rest doth give unto him the right hand of fellowship in the sight of all the Assembly testifying their Brotherly acceptance of him and their thankfulnesse to God for his gracious gift bestowed on him and doth exhort him in the Lord to fulfill the ministery which he hath received of the Lord. And so after publick praise given to God by him in the name of the Church he dissolveth the Assembly with a Blessing SECT V. FOr our calling of Deacons we hold it not necessary to ordaine them with like solemnitie of fasting and prayers as is used in the Ordination of Elders because wee doe not reade the Apostles gave any president thereof in the Ordination of the first Deacons at Jerusalem Act. 6. But the Brethren of the Church having looked out among themselves men fitly qualified for that calling according to the Scriptures formerly mentioned and having made some proofes of them according to the Rule 1 Tim. 3.10 the Elders with the consent of the Church upon some Lords day or other publick holy meeting doe ordaine them to the Office and appoint them over that businesse with prayer and imposition of hands SECT VI. OBject Two things are here demanded First by what warrant the People choose their Officers Answ From the President
spirit wee crave leave to beare witnesse to them and with them That if the Lord be pleased to prosper his worke amongst them it is possible to reduce the estate of the Congregations in England to such a reformation as is sutable to the patterne revealed in the Gospel according to the way of Primitive simplicitie described above Foure things wee observe in the estate of the Churches in England which make way for Reformations amongst them First The efficient instruments of their first plantation which were either Apostles or Apostolicall men whether Philip or Joseph of Arimathea or Simon Zelotes as any of our Countrymen may reade in Mr. Foxes booke of Acts and Monuments in the beginning of it next after the story of the ten Primitive Persecutions out of Gildas Tertullian Origen Beda Nicephorus Which being so wee cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered and planted according to the Rule of the Gospel and all the corruptions found in them since have sprung from Popish Apostasie in succeeding ages and from want of through and perfect purging out of that leaven in the late times of Reformation in the dayes of our Fathers So that all the worke now is not to make them Churches which were none before but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution Secondly The publick Service-booke acknowledgeth That in the Primitive Church there was a godly Discipline That notorious sinners were put to open penance and punished in this world that both their soules might be saved in the day of the Lord and others admonished by their example might be the more afraid to offend Which godly Discipline is a thing saith the Booke much to be desired that it might be restored againe See the beginning of the Comminations against sinners It is therefore acknowledged by the very state of the Churches of England that the present estate of Church discipline is not perfect but defective and swerving from the Primitive godly discipline Thirdly In the publick Rubrick before the Catechisme it is ordered That when children come to yeares of discretion and have learned what others promised for them in Baptisme they should then themselves with their own mouth and with their own consent openly before the Church ratifie and confirme the same And also promise that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keep such things as by their own mouth and confession they have assented to Which course the Booke in a few words after acknowledgeth to be agreeable with the usage of the Church of times past That children coming to perfect age having been instructed in Christian Religion should openly professe their own faith and promise to be obedient to the will of God Which direction if it were as duly observed as it is expresly ordered doth plainly hold forth that the Church of England as they call it doth not acknowledge any to be confirmed members of the Church and so unfit to partake of the Lords Supper till they have expresly confessed their faith openly before the Church and promised obedience to the will of God Which if it be seriously done and not perfunctorily is somewhat of like nature with our receiving of members into the Church and joyning them by Covenant Fourthly In the Exhortation before the Communion the Minister is directed to denounce unto the people That if any of them be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slanderer of his Word an adulterer or be in malice or envie or in any other grievous crime they should bewaile their sinnes and not come to that holy Table lest after the taking of that Sacrament the Devill enter into them as he entered into Judas c. Which plainly argueth they would allow no scandalous person to partake in the Communion of the Lords Table All these things presupposed really performed and seriously attended to might open a doore to sundry passages of a more full and perfect Reformation SECT II. Tendering certain Propositions tending to the Reformation of the Churches in England Propos 1. WHere godly Ministers be already planted in any Congregations let them with due encouragement from the State call the people to solemne humiliation before the Lord for their own sins those of their fathers they have imitated So did Ezra and Nehemiah with the Levites and Priests and upon the like occasions Nehem. 9.2.2 3 4. Ezra 10.1 2.9 10. For though the Parliament the whole Kingdome have protested and Covenanted Reformation for the time to come yet they have cause also to be humbled and that throughly for the time past 2. Let such of the people as are of good knowledge in the wayes of God and of approved conversation take up that course which the Service-book as hath been said giveth an hint of Renue their Covenant formerly made in Baptisme professing their faith and repentance and promising Reformation of life not onely in their private conversation but also in their publick Communion in the Church of God yeelding professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ in the fellowship of all his holy Ordinances 3. Let no Minister that loves the Lord Jesus better then his own belly stand upon his advocation from his Patron but rather expect his vocation from his people 4. For this end let every Patron restore his jus patronatus to the Church Or if it seeme too hard a thing for them to part so freely with their freehold though they ought freely to give unto Christ who have received freely from him the Parliament may be pleased to give them a competent part of the revenues of the Benefice as they call it and annex it to their own private inheritance reserving so much to the use of the Church as may strengthen their hands in a sufficient maintenance of their Ministery for though things dedicated to sacred use cannot be alienated or diverted to private use without sacriledge yet that holdeth in such things as are so dedicated to sacred use as that the Lord accepteth as sacred to himselfe But God no where in the new Testament hath expressed his acceptance or allowance of lands dedicated to the ministery but onely to the service of the whole Church and then for the Churches service they may be disposed of by their consent as sometimes the Kings and Princes of Israel gave away the treasures of the Temple to save themselves from captivitie 2 King 18.15 16. 5. The people having called or chosen their Minister one or more unto office in a day of humiliation let them in the presence of the Ministers of other Churches depute some of the gravest and godly members of the Church to lay their hands upon him with prayer over him in the name of the Lord setting him apart to that office The whole Congregation are said to anoint Zadok to the office of an high Priest as well as Solomon to be King 1 Chron. 29.22 Which is a sacred right as Imposition of hands and this