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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	invisible_a	visible_a	2,160	5	9.2231	5	false

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

the Eldership or Presbytery of Church-Officers bearing the name of Church they were persecuted and scattered all abroad but the Apostles and the reason why the Apostles were not scattered as yet was because they were more known at Ierusalem by doing of many Miracles then other Teachers and more convinced their Adversaries then others by their speaking all Languages and wisdom that was given to them yet it is clear by what hath been said That it was not all the people but Church-Officers that was persecuted who are frequently called the Church as hath been shewed Then here is not any footing for any Independent Congregations therefore their Eldership is not Jure Divino nor according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Then let us take another instance it may be they will say That Church was an Independent Church Acts 2.47 where it is said The Lord added unto the Church daily such as shall be saved For say they This was at the first planting of it and then they were but few for they were with one accord all in Solomons Porch Acts 5.12 But I say The Disciples were numberlesse as I have proved already and that Church that was in Solomons Porch was only the Church-Officers in a Presbytery consulting for the good of the whole multitude of Believers for mark the next words The Officers being in Solomons Porch the rest durst not joyn with them they being a Presbytery advising for the good of the whole Church only the people magnified them see Acts 5.13 Then here we may see That Church-Officers being together in a Presbytery are honored by the people but do Independents thus when they must all sit and vote with them and in stead of honoring their Church-Officers in Presbyteries and Synods they reproach them and vilifie them and call them Antichristian Governors much like Korah and his company and it is a wonder if such men should dye the common death of men But then it may be they will say That Church unto which all Christians must be added was the invisible Church I Answer That is a truth but not the true meaning of this Text and it is plain this was the Universal visible Church for when any was converted from false Religions to the true Religion they were added to the Christian visible Church as members of it and thus the Lord added daily to the visible Church in the sight of all the people then this Church could not be Independent unto which all Christians were added daily neither did any Minister gather to himself a Church but all Ministers labored to gather Christians to the multitude but not as our Independents do to their company from among other baptized Christians and exclude all the rest saying That they are all Antichristian Idolators and without the Kingly Office of Christ but his flock Then this was not an Independent Church but a Presbyterial Church consisting of many Officers and much people Again this was not an Independent Church for there were many Universal Officers in it and if yet they affirm it to be an Independent Church then I would know who had the peculiar charge of it and who bare the name of it whose work alone was it to gather it as they say into a Church-way Again if this Church did belong to one man as to Peter James or John then why must all Christians be added to Peters Church or Iames's Church or Iohns Church or else be damned Must Mr. Goodwins Members be added to Mr. Burtons Church or Mr. Lockers Members be added to Mr. Holms his Church or be damned Then in my judgement it were good to joyn Churches together betimes by Presbyteries and Synods before it be too late I say let us joyn all the visible Congregations in the Kingdom together and all to the Universal visible Church and as our duty seek the welfare of each other and this will soon split all Independent Churches who are descended from that reprobate who said Am I my Brothers keeper These men are like the Inhabitants of Laish a people that dwelt carelesse secure having no Magistrate in the Land to rule them or to put them to shame and They had no businesse with any man Iudges 18.7 But let all faithful Christians say with Paul The care of all the Churches lies upon me and rejoyce to hear the welfare of the Church in all places of the world and grieve to hear that the walls of Ierusalem are broken down and if need require with the Church of Macedonia send relief to them in Iudea and abhor to say We are Independents we have no relation to them nor they to us let them sink or swim we owe them no duty well we may counsel them and yet we may chuse and they also may chuse whether they will take it Now let all judicious Christians but judge and speak their conscience Whether Presbyterial or Independent Church Government is most agreeing to the Primitive Church and be not carelesse but helpful one to another for all those that are united to Christ are also united one to another and so have relation one to another and stand in need of the help of each other Then I conclude That Congregational Presbyterial Eldership is not according to the Word nor the Primitive Church and therefore not Iure Divino I might here speak of the Churches of Corinth Galatia Philippia and Ephesus which were all governed by Presbyteries and were none of them Independent belonging to one man bearing his name and gathered by him and he alone charged with it But this may suffice The next thing in the first Question to be proved is Whether any particular Church Government be Jure Divino and what is that Government I shall answer this by dividing the Officers in the Church from the Officers in the State and bounding them in their place and station where Christ hath set them and to prove That the one hath a Divine Right of Government from Christ in the State and not in the Church and the other hath a Divine Right of Government in the Church but not in the State I prove it thus Christ hath two Kingdoms the one Temporal and the other Spiritual In the first he rules over the Kingdoms of men as Daniel saith He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 He saith By me Kings Raign Prov. 8.15 Kings are his Deputies on Earth in this Temporal Kingdom to Rule over the State and outward affairs of men and also in relation to the Church they may be as a gard about it to defend it by the power of their Positive Laws and also they may be for much good unto it for saith the Lord Cyrus is my shepheard Isa 44. both to provide and care for the Church and defend it as a Shepheard doth his flock Kings shall minister unto it Isa 60.10 But Cyrus was not placed in the Church he was no member of it for he was a Heathen King yet he

Apostle But then some of them say That hundred and twenty names was the Mother Church out of which all other Christian Churches were to spring forth therefore being the first it was Independent I Answ If Independent Churches must have one as their Mother out of which all other Independent Churches ought to spring forth then I would know which of their Churches is that Mother Church did Mr. Burtons Church descend out of Mr. Goodwins or Mr. Lockers Church descend out of Mr. Holms his Church or which is the Mother and which the Daughters But it may be they will say This Mother of Christian Churches did first Baptize them and so leave them not minding whether they were truly converted or not but then after this there followed some that gathered after them none but the godly into their Congregations out of those Baptized before and those alone were the true Churches having the Kingly Office of Christ and in a Church way and not the other and thus our Independents do here But then where is their proof for those things No the contrary is the truth for when Three thousand was converted and became Christians together and all others when they became Christians were added to the Church daily Acts 2.47 Then if Independents should come after the Apostles to cull for themselves a Church they must first unchurch them out of that where they were placed by the Apostles and so when they have cut them off from being Members of Christ they will prefer them to be their Members and then promise them great priviledges and Liberty of Conscience to live as they list But lest I should here make a digression I shall now prove that the number of names there spoken of was not an Independent Congregation consisting of men and women but a Presbytery of Church-Officers First If names in Scripture signifie Church-Officers then that hundred and twenty names were Church-Officers but the Saints having gotten victory over the Officers of Antichrist are said to get victory over the number of his name Rev. 14.2 And when the Officers of Antichrist shall be slain it is said That Seven thousand names of men shall be slain Rev. 11.13 Then the number of names here spoken of were Officers in the Christian Church Secondly If there may be found so many Officers then in the Christian Church then that hundred and twenty names were Officers in it but there was then eleven Apostles and seventy Disciples sent out by Christ before this and the rest of that hundred and twenty names were Teachers which had accompanied Christ from the Baptism of John until he was taken up Acts 1.21 And Christ Ordained more to Preach then the Eleven and the Seventy for saith he to another Go thou and Preach the Kingdom of God Luke 9.60 Then this was was not an Independent Congregation belonging to one particular man Thirdly If the Disciples were then numberlesse then they must needs be more then a single Congregation but the Disciples were then numberlesse for John Baptized all Judea and Jerusalem and all round about Jordan Mat. 6.5 6. and Johns Disciples encreased so fast that the Priests and Pharisees durst not say his Baptism was of men for fear of the people and Herod durst not put him to death for fear of the people Mat. 14.5.21 23 26. And Christ made more Disciples then John yea they could not Baptize together their multitudes were so great and the Pharisees said Perceive you not how the world is gone after him John 3.22 23.4.1.11.19 And people pressed upon him to hear him Preach and the Priests could not destroy him for the people Luke 4.22.5 1 19.47 48. Five thousand came at one time and Seven thousand at another besides women and children and in the open field Zacheos could not see Christ for the multitudes but was forced to climb up into a Tree to see him Luke 19.3 Then was all this but a single Congregation belonging to one man and bearing the name of his Church Fourthly If there was an Universal Officer to be chosen out of these men and by these men then it appears that they were all Officers before as the seventy and the eleven and others were Mark 3.14 6.3 Luke 9.60 10.1 Again if it was an Independent Church like one of these at London then what should they have to do in the choyce of an Universal Officer unlesse one Independent Church had power to chuse Officers for another which will not be granted for that would soon destroy all their Independent Churches which must be alone having nothing to do with any other nor they with them as a duty only they may do something if they please upon courtisie and they may chuse then this was not such a one while they chose an Officer out of themselves to serve elswhere and not among themselves Let us see another instance Suppose our Independents shall say That Church at Jerusalem that was persecuted and scattered abroad was an Independent Church Acts 8.1 Upon this ground saying They were but a small number one single Congregation for say they If there had been such multitudes as I shewed before then how could they be persecuted and scattered and by whom were they so persecuted I Answer That Church at Ierusalem was the Officers of the Church and they were persecuted and scattered abroad all but the Apostles and this was done by the Rulers which did not believe in Christ Iohn 7.48 and by Saul before his conversion he was sent by the Priests to do it Acts 8.1 9.1 And the Officers may be called a Church Representative for the Lord said to Moses Speak to all the Congregation and then he spake to the Elders of the Congregation 12.21 And Christ said Tell the Church which is meant Tell the Officers of the Church who had both the Key of Doctrine and the Key of Discipline delivered to them before Mat. 16.18 19. 18.17 So here the Church was persecuted and scattered abroad that is their Officers for if all the Disciples had been scattered abroad what should the Apostles do behinde they would not tarry if they had none left to teach nor durst they tarry when there was none to harbor them and who would or who durst harbor them if all the Christians had been scattered and fled but there was Disciples still that did harbor them yea there was then many thousand Believers in Ierusalem and this was presently after that persecution as it were with the same breath Saul persecuted them and was converted as he was going to the next Town and came immediatly to Ierusalem and then there was many thousand Believers in Ierusalem see Acts 8.1 9.1 compared with 21.20 Again the Teachers were persecuted for they travelled as far as Cyprus and Phenice and Antioch Preaching the Word of God and they were called Prophets that came from Ierusalem to Antioch Acts 11.19 21.27 So then this Church was not an Independent Congregation but

had the full power of a King in relation to the Church and a Kings being a Christian addes nothing to him in point of Government in the Church only his own benefit as a Christian to enjoy the priviledges of it among other Christians when as Cyrus had not this benefit being a Heathen So then his power is not in the Church but about it he may by the Laws of the Land command obedience to the Church and by those Laws punish the disobedient yet not as an Officer in the Church But then Christ hath another Kingdom and that is Spiritual he saith My Kingdom is not of this world and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth the Father seeketh such to worship him Iohn 4.23 24. 18.36 For this Kingdom he hath Church Officers to govern it every member hath not the same Office Rom. 12.4 The Office of a Bishop is a good work 1 Tim. 3.1 These Christ hath placed in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 A●ron and his Sons shall wait on the Priests Office Numb 3.10 In this Kingdom the Ministers are his Shepheards and all sorts of men their flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers Acts 20.18 And they are charged to feed their flock and to care for it and saith Paul The care of all the Churches lies upon me he was no Independent they became Independents that said What portion have we in David See to thine own house David to your Tents O Israel So they departed to their Tents 1 King 12.16 But I say Church-Officers are placed by Christ in the Spiritual Kingdom the Church as Kings and Magistrates are placed by him in the State and not to stand there like cyphers to fill the place for no use but to rule in it as the other do in the State yet with this difference Frinces and Magistrates have power to make those Laws by which they Rule the State for saith Daniel The Lord hath given thee a Kingdom Dan. 2.37 And they consulted to establish a Royal Statute Dan. 6.7 He hath given the Earth to the Children of men Psal 115.16 But the Church was never so given to any no not to her Officers and Rulers they must not make Laws for it nor repeal any that are made There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Jam. 4.12 The Law of the Church is unalterable like that of the Medes and Persians Not one tittle of the Law shall fail Mat. 5. Their King is eternal and with them to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 And of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 But Kings and Magistrate are placed by Christ in the Temporal Kingdom there indeed they rule with Power and Authority but they may not rule so in the other Kingdom the Church of Christ for these Reasons First If Kings and Magistrates should rule in the Church as Emperors rule the State this were to dethrone Christ who alone is placed and set by the Lord his King upon the holy hill of Sion Psal 2.6 And what affront is done to his Officers in the Church he takes as done to himself and no man ought to usurp the Authority of Church-Officers any more then Church Officers ought to usurp the Office of Magistrates for both must keep their place where Christ hath set them Secondly If Magistrates should rule in the Church as Officers in it this would confound the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ with the Kingdoms of men when as Christ hath plainly divided them Dan. 2. Iohn 18.36 both by precept and example commanding and also giving to God the things of God and to Cesar the things of Cesar Mat. 22.21 Thirdly If State-Officers and Church-Officers were the same and he that hath one hath both then it would follow That Christ and his Apostles both did and taught rebellion in all places where they came when they set up Elders or Church Officers in every Church Acts 14.23 And when Christ expounded the Law in his own name Mat. 5. But this were Blasphemy to affirm for the Government of the Church of Christ is Spiritual and allowed by Princes and Magistrates where ever they came for they know that it did not intrench upon their Authority Fourthly Church Officers have Gods Law for their rule but Magistrates have the Laws of the Common-wealth for their rule then they must keep their places the one to rule in the Church Ministerially because Christ their King is with them Mat. 28.20 and the other in the State with Majesty and Authority because the God of Heaven hath given them a Kingdom power and glory Dan. 2.37 Fifthly Many Kings and Magistrates are not so much as Members of the Church but rather Enemies of it and if they were Members yet they were unworthy of that place to rule in the Church unlesse they were well skill'd in Divinity to rule in Religiously but this were Treason to affirm Sixthly If Kings and Magistrates had power in the Church by vertue of their place then they might obtain this power by War or by Usurpation or Purchase or by Inheritance and so women would rule in the Church that are not permitted to speak in it 1 Cor. 14.34 and children should rule in the Church when as a Bishop must not be a Novice or a yong Scholler 1 Tim. 3. and the meanest Officer in the Church must first be proved before they be admitted Vers 6.10 Lastly If Magistrates power were in the Church they must either have this power from being a Magistrate or from being a Christian but if from being a Magistrate then all Magistrates and Princes must have the like power to rule the Church as well as they or else they are not perfect Magistrates or Princes and if they should have power to rule in the Church because they are Christians then all other Christians may rule in the Church as well as they for all are one in Christ Gal 3.28 Col. 2.11 Then Church Officers together with their Names and Offices are not to be created nor appointed by the Parliament as their creatures when as themselves are not Church Officers and if they were yet they have no power to give Titles Names Offices or Officers in the Church for that is peculiar to Iesus Christ the King of his Church Eph. 4.11 and from him all Church Officers have both their Names and Offices immediatly and therefore Church-Officers are Iure Divino and that for these Reasons First If Church-Officers are placed by Christ in the Church then they are not of Humane Institution but of Divine Right but Christ hath set some in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers helps or Deacons 1 Cor. 12.28 then they being so placed by Christ in the Church they are Iure Divino Secondly If it was both the Apostles command and also their practise to set up Elders in every Church then Elders are Iure Divino of Divine Institution but Paul left Titus in Creet to set in