made up of Bishops or Presbyters or Commissâ—oners from the several Orders being of the Clergy Fourthly That what is concluded on by Plurallity of Votes and agreed to by the Pope and his Legates must necessarily be supposed to be the Judgment of the Infallible Spirit Fifthly That all the Members of the Church are bound implicitly to receive and believe it because it proceeds from a Council to be accounted lawful in the Respects above mentioned without Regard to the Intrinsick or Real Truths of the Things prescribed or bringing them in any Respect to the Test or Examination of the Spirit of God in themselves or the Scriptures Testimony or their Agreement or Disagreement with Truths formerly believed and receiv'd for so much as to prove or try them by Way of Doubt they reckon a Breach of the first Command as on the other Hand a matter of Merit implicitly to receive and believe them however inconsistent with the Testimony of the Spirit in ones own Heart Scripture Truth and Reason Sixthly That no Man as a member of the Church of Christ in that simple Capacity unless a Clergy-man or the Embassadour of some King c. can be admitted to sit vote or give his Judgment Seventhly that it is in no Respect to be supposed that any Members especially Laicks whether in a particular City Country or Nation may meet concerning any Things relating to the Faith and Worship of the Church and give by the Spirit of God any Judgment but that all such Meetings are to be accounted Schismatical and Unlawful And Lastly That the Promise of Infallibility and the Gates of Hell not prevailing is necessarily annexed to the Pope and Council called and authorized in the Manner above expressed Now if to deny every one of these Propositions wherein all Understanding Men know the errors abuses of the Romish Church consist be to be Popish then indeed may we be supposed to be one with the Papists in this Matter but no otherwise so that the very mentioning of these things is sufficient to shew the Difference betwixt us and them but if any will needs plead our Agreement with them thus The Papists affirm an Infallibility of Judgment in the Church of Christ and so do you therefore you are one with Papists I answer That proves no more our Oneness in this Matter then if it should be said the Papists plead that God ought to be worshipped and so do you therefore ye agree notwithstanding of the vast Differences as to that which is known not only betwixt us and them but betwixt them and all Protestants who agree more with them in the matter of Worship then we do Next again Infallibility in the Church according as we hold it I have above defined it no man upon our Supposition or Hypothesis can deny it for since we first assert as a Principle that no Gathering no Church nor Assembly of People however true their Principles be or however exact their Form are to be accounted the Church of Christ except the infallible Spirit lead and guide what can be the Hazard to say that in such a Church there is still an infallible Judgment indeed this is so far from Popery that it resolves in a Proposition quite contradictory to them The Romanists say That the infallible Spirit alwayes accompanies the Outward Visible Professors and is annexed to the external Suceession of Bishops and Pastors though ever so vitious as to their Lives yea though perfect Atheists and Infidels in their private Judgments yet if outwardly professing the Catholick Faith and Subjection to the Church we say on the quite contrary that where there is either Vitiousness of Persons or Unsoundness of Judgment in the particular Members these cannot by Virtue of any outward Call or Succession they have or any Profession they make or Authority they may pretend to so much or claim an Interest in any part of the Church of Christ So then if we admit none to be Members of the Church but such as are led and guided by the Spirit it will be no Popery in the Second Place to affirm that where there is a Company of People so gathered who are not any longer to retain justly the Name of the Church of Christ then they are led and guided by his Spirit or a Church so qualified and designed there is still an infallible Judgment so that this Infallibility is not annexed to the Persons to the Succession to the bare visible Profession though true which the Church of Rome is denied to be or to any Society because of its Profession but singly and alone to the true real and effectual Work of Sanctification and Regeneration the New Creature brought forth in the Heart and this is the Spiritual-Man which the Apostle faith judgeth all Things 1 Cor. 2. 15. To affirm there is an Infallibility here cannot well be condemned by any or whoso doth must needs say the Spirit of God is fallible for we place the Infallibility in the Spirit and in the Power not in the Persons and so these are the Degrees we ascend by because such and such Men are led by the Spirit of God and are obedient to the Grace in their Hearts therefore are they Members Officers in the Church of Christ and because they are Members of the Church of Christ in the Respect before declared therefore there is an Infallible Judgment among them We do not say because such men profess the Christian Faith and have received an outward Ordination and so are by a lawful Succession formally established Officers in the Church when they meet together according to certain Rules above declared there is an Infallibility annexed to their Conclusions and they cannot but decide what is right or rather what they decide must needs be supposed to be right who seeth not here a vast Disproportion Now we differ herein fundamentally that is as to the very Basis and Foundation upon which we build and that not only from the Church of Rome but also from the Generallity of Protestants in this matter All Protestants do acknowledge a General Council to be useful yea necessary in the Case of Division or Debate let us consider the Basis upon which they proceed and the Stress they lay upon it First All jointly both the Prelatical and Presbyterial will have this Synod or Council to consist of a Convocation of the Clergy chosen and sent from the particular Congregations with some few laick Elders called together by the Civil Magistrate in case he be one in Judgment with them They decide by Plurallity of votes and though they assume not an absolute Infallibility in that they reckon it possible for them to err yet do they reckon their Decisions obligatory upon their supposed Consonancy to the Scripture and however do affirm that the Civil Magistrate hath Power to constrain all to submit and obey or else to punish them either by Death Banishment Imprisonment Confiscation of Goods or some other
13. 7. Remember them which have the Rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God whose Faith follow considering the End of their Conversation 17. Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give Account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you Jude 8. Likewise also these filthy Dreamers defile the Flesh despise Dominion and speak Evil of Dignities I might at length enlarge if needful upon these Passages any of which is sufficient to prove the Matter in Hand but that what is said may satisfie such as are not wilfully blind and obstinate for there can be nothing more plain from these Testimonies then that the Ancient Apostles Primitive Christians practised Order and Government in the Church that some did appoint and ordain certain Things condemn and approve certain Practices as well as Doctrines by the Spirit of God that there lay an Obligation in Point of Duty upon others to obey and submit that this was no Encroachment nor-Imposition upon their Christian-Liberty nor any Wayes contradictory to their being inwardly and immediately led by the Spirit of God in their Hearts and lastly that such as are in the true Feeling and Sense will find it their Places to obey and be one with the Church of Christ in such like Cases and that it 's such as have lost their Sense and Feeling of the Life of the Body that dissent and are disobedient under the false Prentence of Liberty so that thus is sufficiently proven what I undertook in this Place Thirdly I judge there will need no great Arguments to prove the People of God may do well to exercise the like Government upon the very like Occasion for even Reason may teach us that what proved good wholsom Cures to the Distemper of the Church in former Ages will not now the very like Distempers falling in prove hurtful and poysonable especially if we have the Testimony of the same Spirit in our Hearts not only allowing us but commanding us so to do It is manifest though we are sorry for it that the same Occasions now fall in we find that there are that have eaten and drunken with us at the Table of the Lord and have been Sharers of the same spiritual Joy and Consolation that afterwards fall away we find to our great Grief that some walk disorderly and some are puffed up and strive to sow Division labouring to stumble the weak and to cause Offences in the Church of Christ What then is more suitable and more christian then to follow the Foot-steps of the Flock and to labour and travail for the good of the Church and for the removing all that is hurtful even as the holy Apostles who walked with Jesus did before us If there be such as walk disorderly now must not they be admonished rebuked and withdrawn from as well as of old or is such to be the Condition of the Church in these latter Times that all Iniquity must go unreproved Must it be Heresie or Oppression to watch over one another in Love to take Care for the Poor to see that there be no corrupt no defiled Members of the Body and carefully and christianly deal with them for restoring them if possible and for withdrawing from them if incureable I am perswaded that there are none that look upon the Commands of Christ and his Apostles the Practice and Experience of the primitive Church and Saints as a sufficient President to authorize a Practice now that will deny the Lawfulness or Usefulness hereof but must needs acknowledge the Necessity of it But if it be objected as some have done Do not you deny that the Scripture is the adequate Rule of Faith and Manners and that the Commands or Practices of the Scripture are not a sufficient Warrant for you now to do any thing without you be again authorized and led unto it by the same Spirit and upon that Score do you not forbear some things both practised and commanded by the primitive Church and Saints Well I hope I have not any thing weakned this Objection but presented it in its full Vigour and Strength to which I shall clearly and distinctly answer thus First Seasons and Times do not alter the Nature and Substance of Things in themselves though it may cause Things to alter as to the Usefulness or not Usefulness of them Secondly Things commanded and practised at certain times and seasons fall of themselves whenas the Cause and Ground for which they were commanded is removed as there is no need now for the Decision about Circumcision seeing there are none contend for it neither as to the Orders concerning Things offered to Idols seeing there is now no such Occasion yet who will say that the Command enjoyn'd in the same Place Acts 15. 20. To abstain from Fornication is now made void seeing there is daily need for its standing in Force because it yet remains as a Temptation man is incident to We confess indeed we are against such as from the bare Letter of the Scripture though if it were seasonable now to debate it we find but few to deal with whose Practises are so exactly squared seek to uphold Customs Forms or Shaddows when the Use for which they were appointed is removed or the Substance it self known and witnessed as we have sufficiently elsewhere answered our Opposers in the Case of Water-Baptism and Bread and Wine c. so that the Objection as to that doth not hold and the Difference is very wide in respect of such Things the very Nature and Substance of which can never be dispensed with by the People of God so long as they are in this World yea without which they could not be his People for the Doctrines and fundamental Principles of the Christian Faith we own and believe originally and principally because they are the Truths of God whereunto the Spirit of God in our Hearts hath constrained our Understandings to obey and submit In the second Place we are greatly confirmed strengthned and comforted in the joint Testimony of our Brethren the Apostles and Disciples of Christ who by the Revelation of the same Spirit in the Dayes of old believed and have left upon record the same Truths so we having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore we speak and we deny not but some that from the Letter have had the Notion of these Things have thereby in the Mercy of God received Occasion to have them revealed in the Life for we freely acknowledge though often calumniated to the contrary that whatsoever Things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures may have Hope So then I hope if the Spirit of God lead me now unto that which is good profitable yea and
how can we expect to invite them to come among us when such Virtues as which still accompany the Truth are necessarily supposed to be wanting should we affirm otherwise it were to destroy the Truth and Faith we have been and are in the Lord's Hand building up and indeed the Spirit and Practice of such as oppose us herein hath no less Tendency Moreover besides the Enforcing and Intrinsick Reason of this Thing we have the Concurrence Approbation and Comfort of the Apostles Testimony 1 Cor. 6. Dare any of you having a matter against another go to Law before the Vnjust and not before the Saints If it be objected Do you reckon all Vnjust that are not of you Think ye all other People void of Justice I answer Though the Apostle useth this Expression I am perswaded he did not reckon all others Unjust that had not received then the Christian Faith there was no doubt Morall and Just Men among the Heathen and therefore the same Paul commends the Nobility of Festus he reckons them there Unjust in Respect of the Saints or comparatively with them as such as are not come to the just principle of God in themselves to obey it and follow it and therefore though he accounts them who are least esteemed in the Church capable to decide such Matters yet he supposeth it safer to submit to their Judgment in such Cases though it were by taking wrong or suffering wrong then to go before others to the greater Reproach of the Truth We hope though many Occasions of this kind have fallen in among us since we have been a People none have had just occasion to decline our Judgment and though some should suppose themselves to be wronged yet if they should go bring their matter before others we might say as the Apostle saith in the forementioned Chapter ver 7. This were thereby a Fault in them and would evidence a greater Care of some outward Concern then of the Honour and Interest of Truth and therefore such as have a tender Regard that Way would rather suffer what to their Apprehensions may seem wrong for in matters wherein two Parties are opposite in the Case of Meum and Tuum it is somewhat hard to please both except where the Power of Truth and the Righteous Judgment thereof reaching to that of God in the Conscience hath brought to a true Acknowledgment him that hath been mistaken or in the wrong which hath frequently fallen out among us to the often refreshing and confirming our Souls in the certain Belief that Christ was fulfilling his Promises among us In restoring Judges as at the first and Counsellors as in the Beginning Now suppose any should be so pettish or humorous as not to agree in such Matters to the Judgment of his Brethren and to go before the Unbelievers for though I reckon them not such Unbelievers as the Heathen of old because they profess a Faith in God and Christ yet I may safely say they are Unbelievers as to these Principles and Doctrines which we know are the Truth of God and in that Sense must be Unbelievers as to him that so appealeth to them from his Brethren I say such as so do first commit a certain Hurt and Evil in staining the Honour and Reputation of the Truth they profess which ought to be dearer to us then our Lives and even in that outward Matter for which they thus do they run a Hazard not knowing whether things shall carry as they expect if they loose they have a double prejudice if they gain it is a too dear Rate even with the Hurt of Truth 's Reputation which their outward Advantage cannot make up If then it be unlawfull to do evil that good may come of it even a Spiritual Good far less is it lawful to do a positive Evil of so deep a Dye as to bring an Evil Report upon the good Land and give the Uncircumcised an Occasion to rejoyce out of the Uncertain Hope of an outward Gain it is far better to suffer Loss as the Apostle very well argues in the Place above mentioned Indeed if there be any such have been or appear to be of us as suppose there is not a wise Man among us all nor an honest Man that is able to judge betwixt his Brethren We shall not covet to meddle in their Matter being perswaded that either they or their Cause is naught thought Praises to Go d among all those that have gone from us either upon one Account or other I never heard that any were so minded towards us but the most part of them having let in the Offence of somethings or persons have had this Unanimous Testimony concerning us that generally we are an honest and upright-hearted People but whatever Sense our Enemies or Apostates have of us who look asquaint on the Face of Truth and can see nothing aright in those they love not or are prejudicate against This we can say in the last Place besides the Reasons and Scripture above declared that the good Fruits and Effects which daily abound to the Houshold of Faith in this as well as the other Parts of the Government the Lord is establishing among us doth more more commend it unto us and confirmeth our Hearts in the certain Belief of that which we can confidently testifie in good Conscience that God hath led us hereunto by his Spirit and we see the Hand of the Lord herein which in due Time will yet more appear that as through our faithful Testimony in the Hand of the Lord that Antichristian and Apostatized Generation the National Ministry hath received a deadly Blow by our discovering and witnessing against their Forced Maintenance and Tythes against which we have testified by many cruel Sufferings of all kinds as our Chronicles shall make known to Generations to come so that their Kingdom in the Hearts of Thousands begins to totter and loose its Strength and shall assuredly fall to the Ground through Truth 's prevailing in the Earth so on the other Hand do we by coming to Righteousness and Innocency weaken the Strength of their Kingdom who judge for Rewards as well as such as preach for Hire and by not ministring Occasion to those who have heaped up Riches and lived in Excess Lust and Riot by feeding and preying upon the Iniquities and Contentions of the People for as Truth and Righteousness prevails in the Earth by our faithful witnessing and keeping to it the Nations shall come to be eased and disburdned of that deceitful Tribe of Lawyers as well as Priests who by their many Tricks and Endless Intricacies have rendered Justice in their Method burdensom to honest Men and seek not so much to put an End as to foment Controversies and Contentions that they themselves may be still fed and upheld and their Trade kept up Whereas by Truth 's Propagation as many of these Controversies will dye by Mens coming to be less contentious so when any Difference ariseth the
all have need one of another yet is no Member to assume another Place in the Body then God has given it nor yet to grudge or repine its Fellow-member's Place but to be content with its own for the Uncomely Parts are no less needful then the Comely and the less Honourable then the more Honourable which the Apostle Paul holds forth in 1 Cor. 12. from Vers. 13 to 30. Now the Ground of all Schism Divisions or Rents in the Body is whenas any Member assumes another Place then is allotted it or being gone from the Life and Unity of the Body and loosing the Sense of it le ts in the Murmurer the Eye that watches for Evil and not in holy Care over its Fellow-members and then instead of coming down to Judgement in it self will stand up and judge its Fellow-members yea the whole Body or those whom God has set in a more honourable and eminent Place in the Body then it self such suffer not the Word of Exhortation and term the Reproofs of Instruction which is the Way of Life Imposition and Oppression and are not aware how far they are in the things they condemn others for while they spare not to reprove and revile all their Fellow-members yet if they be but admonished themselves they cry out as if their great Charter of Gospel-Liberty were broken Now though such and the Spirit by which they are acted be sufficiently seen and felt by Thousands whose Hearts God has so established as they are out of Danger of being intangled in that Snare and who have Power and Strength in themselves to judge that Spirit even in its most subtil Appearances yet there are who cannot so well withstand the Subtilty and seeming Sincerity some such pretend to though in measure they have a sight of them and others that cannot so rightly distinguish betwixt the Precious and the Vile and some there are that through Weakness and want of true Discerning may be deceived and the Simplicity in them betrayed for a season as it is written With Fair Speeches and Smooth Words they deceive the Hearts of the Simple Therefore having according to my measure received an Opening in my Understanding as to these things from the Light of the Lord and having been for some time under the weighty Sense of them I find at this instant a Freedom to commit them to writing for the more Universal Benefit and Edification of the Church of CHRIST Now for the more plain and clear opening and understanding of these things it is fit to sum up this Treatise in these following general Heads to be considered of First From whence the Ground and Cause of this Controversie is the Rice and Root of it Secondly Whether there be now any Order and Government in the Church of Christ Thirdly What is the Order and Government which we plead for in what Cases and how far it may extend in whom the Power decisive is and how it differeth and is wholely another then the Oppressing and Persecuting Principality of the Church of Rome and other Antichristian Assemblies SECTION Second Concerning the Ground and Cause of this CONTROVERSIE VVHenas the Lord God by his mighty Power began to visit the Nations with the Dawning of his Heavenly Day for thus I write unto those that have received and believed the Truth and that he sent forth his Instruments whom he had fitted and prepared for his Work having fashioned them not according to the Wisdom and Will of Man but to his own heavenly Wisdom and Counsel they went sorth and preached the Gospel in the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit not in the Enticing Words of man's Wisdom but in Appearance as Fools and mad to those that judged according to Man but their Words and Testimony pierced through into the Inner Man in the Heart and reached to that of God in the Conscience whereby as many as were simple-hearted and waited for the Redemption of their Souls received them as the Messengers of the most high God and their Words were unto them not as the Words of Men but as the Words of God for in the receiving and imbracing the Testimony of Truth through them they felt their Souls eased and the acceptable Day began to dawn in and upon them Now what Evidence brought these Men to make their Testimony to be received did they entice did they flatter did they daub up did they preach Liberty to the Flesh or Will of man Nay verily they used no such Method their Words were as Thunder-Bolts knocking down all that stood in their Way and pouring down the Judgement of God upon the Head of the Transgressor every where Did they spare the Zealous Professor more then the open prophane Nay verily they condemned equally the Hypocrisie of the one as well as the Prophanity of the other yet wanted they not regard to the tender Seed and Plant of God in either Did they give way Did they yield to the Wisdom of man to the Deceitfulness of the Serpent that would reason Truth from themselves saying I must stay until I be convinced of this and thaâ— and the other thing I see not yet this to be wrong or the other thâ—â—g to be my Duty How did they knock down this manner of Reasoning by the Spirit of God which wrought mightily in them shewing and holding forth that this is the Day of the Lord that is dawned that all are invited to come that none ought to tarry behind that that which so pleadeth is the same Spirit which of old time said in those that were invited I cannot come yet I must first marry a Wife I must go prove my Yoak of Oxen I must go visit my Possessions let me first bury my dead Father Did not the Lord through them testifie and declare against these things and is there not a Cloud of Witnesses who felt the Enemy thus reasoning to keep us in the Forms Fellowships false Worships and Foolish Fashions of this World but we felt as we were obedient all these things to be for Condemnation and that as we obeyed the pure manifestation of the Light of Jesus in our Hearts there was no Haesitation We might and should have parted with all those things at the first and what occasioned such Scruples was but that which drew back through being unwilling to give pure Obedience to the Cross of Christ for as many as gave Obedience and believed in the Light found no Occasion of stumbling but such as believed not were condemned already because they believed not in him that appeared Now the Boldness and Courage and Efficacy of these Messengers Testimony wrought such Astonishmenâ— Fear and Amazement in the Hearts of such as were Ingenuous that many began to be inwardly pricked as in the Days of old and the Foundations of many began to be shaken and some that were asleep were awakened and many that were dead and buried in the Graves of Sin and Formality and Superstition and Idolatry of all Sorts
absolutely needful in order to the keeping my Conscience clear and void of Offence towards God and Man none will be so unreasonable as to say I ought not to do it because it is according to the Scriptures nor do I think it will savour ill among any serious solid Christians for me to be the more confirmed and perswaded that I am led to this Thing by the Spirit that I find it in it self good and useful and that upon the like Occasions Christ commanded it the Apostles and Primitive Christians practised and recommended it Now seeing it is so that we can boldly say with a good Conscience in the Sight of God that the same Spirit which leads us to believe the Doctrines and Principles of the Truth and to hold them and maintain them again after the Apostacy in their primitive and ancient Purity as they were delivered by the Apostles of Christ in the holy Scriptures I say that the same Spirit doth now lead us into the like holy Order and Government to be exercised among us as it was among them being now the like Occasion and Opportunity ministred to us therefore what can any Christianly or Rationally object against it for that there is a Real Cause for it the thing it self speaketh and that it was the Practice of the Saints and Church of old is undeniable what kind of Ground then can any such Opposers have for to such as scrupling at this do notwithstanding acknowledge our Principle that this were done by Imposition or Imitation more then the Belief of the Doctrines and Principles seeing as it is needful to use all Diligence to convince and perswade People of the Truth and bring them to the Belief of it which yet we cannot do but as Truth moves and draws in their Hearts it is also no less needful when a People is gathered to keep and preserve them in Unity and Love as becomes the Church of Christ and to be careful as saith the Apostle That all Things be done decently and in Order and that all that is wrong be removed according to the Method of the Gospel and the good cherished and encouraged so that we conclude and that upon very good Grounds that there ought now as well as heretofore to be Order Government in the Church of Christ that which now cometh to be examined in the third Place is First What is the Order and Government we plead for Secondly In what Cases and how far it may extend and in whom the Power decisive is Thirdly How it differeth and is wholely an other then the oppressive and persecuting Principallity of the Church of Rome and other Antichristian Assemblies SECTION Fourth Of the Order and Government which we plead for IT will be needful then before I proceed to describe the Order Government of the Church to consider what is or may be properly understood by the Church for some as I touched before seem to be offended or at least afraid of the very Word because The Power of the Church the Order of the Church the Judgment of the Church and such like Pretences have been the great Weapons wherewith Antichrist and the Apostate Christians have been these many Generations persecuting the Woman and warring against the Man-child and indeed great Disputes have been among the Learned Rabbies in the Apostacy concerning this Church what it is or what may be so accounted which I find not my Place at present to dive much in but shall only give the true Sense of it according to Truth and the Scriptures plain Testimony The Word Church in it self and as used in the Scriptures is no other but a Gathering Company or Assembly of certain People called or gathered together for so the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies which is that the Translators render Church which Word is derived from the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. evoco I call out of from the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voco I call Now though the English Word Church be only taken in such a Sense as People are gathered together upon a Religious Account yet the Greek Word that is so rendered is taken in general for every Gathering or Meeting together of People and therefore where it is said The Town-Clark of the Ephesians dismissed the Tumult that was gathered there together the same Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Acts 19. 41. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he dismissed the Assembly or the Church A Church then in the Scripture Phrase is no other then a Meeting or Gathering of certain People which if it be taken in a religious Sense as most commonly it is are gathered together in the Belief of the same Principles Doctrines and Points of Faith whereby as a Body they become distinguished from others and have a certain Relation among themselves and a conjunct Interest to the maintaining and propagating these Principles they judge to be right and therefore have a certain Care and Oversight over on another to prevent and remove all Occasions that may tend to break this their conjunct Interest hinder the Propagation of it or bring Infamy Contempt or Contumely upon it or give such as on the other Hand are or may be banded together to undo them just Occasion against them to decry and defame them Now the Way to distinguish that Church Gathering or Assembly of People whereof Christ truly is the Head from snch as falsly pretend thereto is by considering the Principles Grounds upon which they are gathered together the Nature of that Hierarchy Order they have among themselves the Way and Method they take to uphold it and the Bottom upon which it standeth which will greatly contribute to clear all Mistakes Forasmuch as Sanctification and Holiness is the great and chief End among true Christians which moves them to gather together therefore the Apostle Paul defines the Church in his Salutation to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 2. Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints so the Church is such as are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints The Power and Authority Order and Government we speak of is such as a Church Meeting Gathering or Assembly claims towards those that have or do declare themselves Members who own believe and profess the same Doctrines and Principles of Faith with us and go under the same Distinction and Denomination whose Escapes Faults and Errors may by our Adversaries justly be imputed to us if not seasonably and christianly reproved reclaimed or condemned for we are not so foolish as to concern our selves with those who are not of us far less who stand in Opposition to us so as to reprove instruct or reclaim them as Fellow Members or Brethren yet with a Respect to remove the general Reproach from the Christian Name with a tender Regard to the good of their immortal Souls for the Zeal we owe to God's Glory and
Saints giving Judgment without Gift or Reward or running into the Tricks and endless Labyrinths of the Lawyers will soon compose them and this is that we are perswaded the Lord is bringing about in our Day though many do not and many will not see it because it is indeed in a Way different and contrary to Man's Wisdom who are now despising Christ in his inward Appearance because of the Meanness of it as the Jews of old did him in his outward yet notwithstanding there were some then that did witness and could not be silent but must testifie that he was come even so now are there Thousands that can set to their Seal that he hath now again the second time appeared and is appearing in Ten Thousands of his Saints in and among whom as a first Fruits of many more that shall be gathered he is restoring the Golden Age and bringing them into the Holy Order and Government of his own Son who is ruling and to rule in the midst of them setting forth the Counsellors as at the Beginning and Judges as at first and establishing Truth Mercy Righteousness and Judgement again in the Earth Amen Halelujah Thirdly these Meetings take Care in the Case of Marriages that all things be clear and that there may nothing be done in that Procedure which afterwards may prove to the Prejudice of Truth or of the Parties concerned which being an outward Thing that is acknowledged in it self to be lawful of the greatest Importance a Man or a Woman can perform in this World and from the suddain unwary or disorderly Procedure whereof very great Snares and Reproaches may be cast both upon the Parties and the Profession owned by them therefore it doth very fitly among other things when it occurs come to be considered of by the People of God when met to take Care to preserve all things right and savoury in the Houshould of Faith We do believe our Adversaries that watch for Evil against us would be glad how promiscuously or disorderly we proceeded in this weighty Matter that so they might the more boldly accuse us as Overturners of all Humane and Christian Order but God hath not left us without his Counsel and Wisdom in this Thing nor will he that any should receive Just Occasion against us his People and therefore in this weighty Concern we who can do nothing against the Truth but all for and with a Regard to the Truth have divers Testimonies for the Lord and First That we cannot marry with those that walk not in and obey not the Truth as being of another Judgment or Fellowship or pretending to it walk not suitably and answerably thereto Secondly Nor can we go to the Hireling-Priests to uphold their false and usurped Authority who take upon them to marry People without any Command or President for it from the Law of God Lastly Nor can we suffer any such Kind of Marriages to pass among us which either as to the Degrees of Consanguinity or otherwise in it self is unlawfull or from which there may be any just Reflection cast upon our Way As to the first two they being Matter of Principles received and believed it is not my Work here to debate them only since they are received and owned as such for which we can and have given out sufficient Reasons else-where as for our other Principles we ought to care how any by walking otherwise bring Reproach upon us Yet not to pass them wholely by as to the First Besides the Testimony of the Spirit of God in our Hearts which is the Original Ground of our Faith in all Things we have the Testimony of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 6. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together c. Now if any should think it were much from this Scripture to plead it absolutely unlawful in any Case to joyn in Marriage with any however otherwise Sober because of their not being one with us in all Things I shall speak my Judgment To me it appears so and to many more who have obtained Mercy and we think we have the Spirit of God but whether it be lawful or not I can say positively it is not expedient neither doth it edifie and as that which is of dangerous Consequence doth give justly Offence to the Church of Christ and therefore no true tender Heart will prefer his private Love to the Good and Interest of the whole Body As for the Second In that we deny the Priests their assumed Authority and Power to marry it is that which is no wise we can resile from nor can we own any in the doing of it it being a part of our Testimony against the Usurpations of that Generation who never yet that I ever heard of could produce any Scripture-proof or Example for it and seeing none can pretend Conscience in the Matter for they themselves confess that it is no part of the Essence of Marriage if any pretending to be among us should through Fear Interest or Prejudice to the Truth come under and bow to that Image have we not Reason to deny such Slavish and Ignoble Spirits as mind not Truth and its Testimony Lastly Seeing if any walking with us or going under the same Name should hastily or disorderly go together either being within the Degrees of Consanguinity which the Law of God forbids or that either Party should have been formerly under any Tye or Obligation to others or any other vast Disproportion which might bring a just Reflection upon us from our Opposers Can any blame us for taking Care to prevent these Evils by appointing that such as so design make known their Intentions to these Churches or Assemblies where they are most known that if any know just Cause of Hinderance it may be mentioned and a timous Let put to the Hurt either by stopping it if they can be brought to condescend or by refusing to be Witnesses and Concurrers with them in it if they will not for we take not upon us to hinder any to marry otherwise then by Advice or disconcerning our selves neither do we judge that such as do marry contrary to our Mind that therefore their Marriage is null and void in it self or may be dissolved afterwards nay all our meddling is in a holy Care for the Truth for if the Thing be right all that we do is to be Witnesses and if otherwise that we may say for our Vindication to such as may upbraid us therewith that we advise otherwise and did no wayes concur in the Matter that so they may bear their own Burden and the Truth and People of God be cleared Now I am confident that our Way Herein is so answerable to Reason and Christianity that none will blame us therefore except either such whose Irregular and Impatient Lusts cannot suffer a Serious and Christian Examination and an advised and moderate Procedure or such who watching for evil against us are sorry we should proceed so orderly and would rather we
accordâ—ng as God hath dealt to every man the Measure of Faith 4 For as we have many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office 5 So we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another 6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophecy let us prophesie according to the Proportion of Faith 7 Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on Teaching 8 Or he that exhorteth on Exhortation He that giveth let him do it with Simplicity he that ruleth with Diligence he that sheweth Mercy with Cheerfulness If any then should quarrel his Brother for exercising that which belongeth to the Office of the Body Christ hath called him to and would force him to exercise the same Office he doth though he be not called to it here is a Breach of Christian Liberty and an Imposing upon it Now all Schisms and Jars fall out in this twofold Respect either when any Person or Persons assume another or an higher Place in the Body then God will them to be in and so exercise an Office or go about to perform that which they ought not to do or whenas any truly exercising in their Place which God hath given them others rise up and judge them and would draw them from it both of which Cases have been and may be supposed to fall out in the Church of Christ as 1 Cor. 4. 3 4. where some judged Paul wrongously 3 John 9. where one exalting himself above his Place judged whom he ought not We see then what Diversities be most usually in the Church of God consisting in the Difference of the Gift proceeding from the same Spirit and in the divers Places that the several Members have in the same Body for the Edification of it and every one being here in his own Station in standing therein is his Strength Perfection and to be in another though higher and more eminent would but weaken and hurt him and so in this there ought to be a mutual Forbearance that there may neither be a coveting nor aspiring on the one hand nor yet a despising or condemning on the other But besides the Forbearance of this Nature which is most ordinary universal and for the Exercise whereof there is and will still be a need so long as there is any Gathering or Church of Christ upon the Earth there is a certain Liberty and Forbearance also that is more particular and has a Relation to the Circumstance of Times and Places which will not hold universally whereof we have the Example of the primitive Church testified by the Scriptures in two or three Particulars the first was in suffering Circumcision to the Jews for a time and not only so but also divers others of the legal and ceremonial Purifications and Customs as may appear Acts 21. v. 21 22 23 24 c. The second was in the Observation of certain Dayes Rom. 14. 5. And the third in the Abstaining from Meats 1 Cor. 8. throughout here the Apostle perswades to and recommends a Forbearance because of the Weakness of some for he sayes not any where nor can it be found in all the Scriptures of the Gospel that these things such weak ones were exercised in were things indispensibly necessary or that it had been better for them they had not been under such Scruples providing it had been from a Principle of true Clearness and so of Faith Next again These Acts of Forbearance were done in a Condescension to the Weakness of such upon whom the Ancient and truly deserved in its season Veneration of the Law had such a deep impression that they could not yet dispense with all its Ceremonies and Customs and to such the Apostle holds forth a two-fold Forbearance First A certain Compliance by such Believers as were gathered out from the Jews though they saw over these things yet it was fit they should condescend somewhat to their Country-men and Brethren who were weak 2dly The like Forbearance in the Gentiles not to judge them in these things but we see that it was not allowed for such weak ones to propagate these Scruples or draw others into them and that whenas any of the Churches of the Gentiles who wanted this Occasion would have been exercising this Liberty or pleading for it the Apostle doth down-rightly condemn it as I shall make appear in all the three Instances above-mentioned First In that of Circumcision Gal. 5. 2 4. Behold I Paul say unto you that if ye be Circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Christ is become of none effect unto you Whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are fallen from Grace Can there be any thing more positive Might not some here have pretended Tenderness of Conscience and have said Though the Decree of the Apostles do dispense with Circumcision in me yet if I find a Scruple in my self and a Desire to it out of Tenderness why should it be an Evil in me to do it more then in the Jews that believe We see there is no room left here for such Reasoning Secondly As to Observations Gal. 4. 9 10 11. Might not they have answered What if we Regard a Day to the Lord must we not then is not this thy own words We see that did not hold here because in them it was a returning to the Beggerly Elements Thirdly As to Meats 1 Tim. 4. 3. Here we see that is accounted a Doctrine of Devils which in another respect was Christian-Forbearance and therefore now and that in the general respect he gives this Reason Vers. 4. For every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with Thanksgiving of them that believe and know the Truth So we see that in these particular things there is great need of Wariness in the Church of Christ for that sometimes Forbearance under a Pretence of Liberty may be more hurtful then downright judging I suppose if any now should arise and pretend Conscience and claim a Liberty for Circumcision and the purifications of the Law whether all Christians would not with one Voice condemn it and so as to Dayes and Meats how do the Generality of Protestants judge it though I deny not but there may and ought to be a mutual Forbearance in the Church of Christ in certain such Cases which may fall in and a Liberty there is in the Lord which breaks not the Peace of the true Church but in such Matters as I observed at large before both the Nature of the things the Spirit they come from and the Occasion from whence and their Consequence and Tendency is to be carefully observed SECTION Seventh Concerning the Power of Decision SEeing then it may fall out in the Church of Christ that both some may assume another place in the Body then they ought and others may lay claim to a Liberty and pretend Conscience in things they ought not
turned away from because in so far as I observed before as Sanctification to wit those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus make the Church and give the right Definition to it where that is wholely wanting the Church of Christ ceaseth to be and there remains nothing but a Shadow without Substance such Assemblies then are like the dead Body when the Soul is departed which is no more fit to be conversed with because it corrupts and proves noisom to the living but by the Church of Christ I understand all those that truly and really have received and hold the Truth as it is in Jesus and are in measure sanctified or sanctifying in and by the Power and Virtue thereof working in their inward Parts and this may be made up of divers distinct Gatherings or Churches in several Countries or Nations I say so long as these or any of them do retain that which justly entitles them the Church or Churches of Christ which they may be truly called though there may fall out some Differences Divisions or Schisms among them as we may see there was no small Dissension in the Church of Antioch and yet it ceased not to be a Church Acts 15 2. and 1 Cor. 1. 11. For it hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren that there are Contentions among you and yet verâ—◠〈◊〉 he entitles them the Church of God them that are sanctifiâ—d in Christ Jesus So long I say as they truly retain this Title of the Church of Christ as being really such there will never be wanting the certain Judgment of Truth for which besides the positive Promise of Christ before-mentioned which is not without Blasphemy to be called in question or doubted of I shall add these Reasons That seeing the Church of Christ is his Body of which he is the Head it were to make Christ negligent of his Body who stiles himself the good Shepherd and hath said He will never leave nor forsake his own or else which is worse it would infer a possibility of Error or Mistake in Christ in whom as the Head is the Eyes of the Body by which it is to be ruled in all things Next we never find in all the Scripture since the Gospel that ever this was wanting but that God still gave infallible Judgment by his Spirit in some of the Respects above mentioned if the Transactions and Controversies of the after Centuries be alledged I will boldly affirm and prove that there was never a true Judgment wanting so long as the Nature and Essence of the true Church was retained if any will needs affirm otherwise let them shew me where and I shall answer it though I deny not that after the Mystery of Iniquity did begin to work or had so wrought first by intermixing and afterward by altogether forsaking the Nature of Truth retaining only the bare Name of the Church but that there might be some scattered ones here and there one in a Nation and now and then one in an Age who by the Power and Virtue of the Spirit of Life working in them might be truly sanctified yet these were but as Witnesses in Sack cloth no wayes sufficient to give these Assemblies in which they were engrossed the Appellation of the Church of Christ coming no more under Observation by the Generallity nor having as to them any more Influence then some Tittle or scarcely discernable Sparks of Fire in many great Heaps and Mountains of Ashes and thus much to prove that where there is any Gathering or Assembly which truly and properly may be called the Church of Christ the infallible Judgment will never be wanting in Matters of Controversie Secondly That ordinarily God hath in the communicating of his Will under his Gospel imployed such whom he had made use of in gathering of his Church and in feeding and watching over them though not excluding others for as in a natural Body to which the Church of Christ is compared the more substantial and powerful Members do work most effectually and their Help is most necessary to supply any Defect or Trouble in the Body so also if there be Diversities of Gifts in the Church as is above proved and some have a greater Measure and some a lesser these that have the greater are more capable to do good and to help the Body in its need then others that are weaker and less powerful since there are strong and weak Babes and Young Men who have overcome the Evil One and in whom the Word of God abideth such are more able when the Enemy besets to resist having already overcome then others who are but yet wrestling and not Conquerers Now every Controversie and Dissension in the Church comes from the Besetments of the Enemy yet if any of these Strong or Young Men or Powerful Members go from their Station it is not denied but that they are as Weak as any and it is presupposing their Faithfulness in their Place that I thus affirm and no otherwise nor yet do limit the Lord to this Method for in him are all the Treasures both of our Wisdom and Strength and the weakest in his Hand are as strong as the strongest who may now as well as heretofore kill a Goliah by the Hand of little David yet we see the Lord doth ordinarily make use of the strong to support the weak and indeed when such as may be termed weak are so made use of it alters the Nature of their Place and constitutes them in a higher and more eminent Degree for though it was little David it was also he that was to be King of Israel though the Apostles were mean Men among the Jews yet they were such as were to be the Apostles of the Lord of Glory Instruments to gather the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and to proclaim the acceptable Day of the Lord and though Paul was once accounted the Least of all the Saints a Child born out of due Time yet was he him who was to be the greatest Apostle of the Gentiles Now then let us consider whom the Lord makes use of in the Affairs of the primitive Church and through whom he gave forth his infallible Judgment did he not begin first by Peter he was the first that spoke in the first Meeting they had Acts 1. and who first stood up after the pouring forth of the Spirit and who first appeared before the Council of the Jews and spoke in behalf of the Gospel of Christ though I am far from calling him as some do the Prince of the Apostles yet I may safely say he was one of the most ancient and eminent and to whom Christ in a Manner somewhat more then ordinary had recommended the Feeding of his Flock we see also he was first made use of in preaching to the Gentiles and what Weight his and James's Words had in the Contest about Circumcision towards the bringing the Matter to a Conclusion Acts 15. yet that we may see