she should advise nor in what cases neighbor Churches may call an offending Church to account or how oft they must do it nor when they may lawfully non-communion a Sister-Church nor doth the Scripture limit the number of Elders as three four five six c. which each Congregation must have and neither more no less nor doth it bound a Congregational Church saying it must consist of one hundred two or three hundred five or six hundred or a thousand two three or more thousands nor that the bounds of the habitation of its members should be two three four ten twenty miles but these things are left to prudence according to the general rules of the Word 4. How much the greater distance there is between Churches so much the less needs the visible communion thereof to be because danger of scandal and infection and opportunity of mutual edification is less or more according as the distance of place is greater or less and this occasions and justifies the more strict ordinary visible Ecclesiastical Communion of the Congregations within a Classis then within a Province within a Nation then in all the World 5. God requires no further association then he gives opportunity to as in case a particular person have not opportunity of joyning to any Congregation or a particular Congregation have no neighbors to associate with that is supream Ecclesiastical Authority to us which is the highest we can get pro hic et nunc if God by his providence shut the door of higher Appeals that we cannot ascend above a National or a Provincial Assembly or above a particular Church and this is true also in some necessary cases that supream civil power may be exercised in one Assembly yea in one Family the same thing may be said of the Jewish Synagogues in Heathen Countries that they were independent when they could not have the benefit of superior judicatories though they were nothing so in Indea where they might have that benefit 6. In the Jewish Church were several distinct Presbyteries or Conventions of Elders subordinate one to another and as the word Presbytery is translated to the Christian Church x 1 Tim. 4 14. so that subordination of Presbyteries was not ceremonial nor typical nor a temple-ordinance but grounded on Reason and the light of nature as appears by Jethro's advice to Moses y Exod. 18 21 22 23 c. and by the consent of all Nations warrantably moulding civil Government in such a subordination and God hath not commanded men to lay aside their reason nor hath he prohibited such subordination but commanded it rather Mat. 18. For. 1. Christ speaks of a Church then extant which could be no other then the Jewish Church no Christian Church being then founded with subordinate Judicatories appeals and therefore must needs be understood by tell the Church to command appeals from the Synagogue to the Sanhedrim while the Jewish Church and the Government thereof stood undissolved 2. There is no appearance in the words there or elsewhere that Christ appointed that the Christian Churches Government should be moulded after another manner then the Jewish in matters of moral Equity 3. Subordination of a particular person offending to a particular Church doth by a like reason prove the subordination of a Church to greater Assemblies because the grounds reasons and ends of subordination are the same in both 4. The Elders and Governors are in Scripture frequently called by the name of Rahal and by the Septuagint Ecclesia or Church a Deut. 31 30. with 28 Lev. 4. 14. with 15. 2 Chron. 1 2. with 3. Deut. 23. 1 2 3 8. and sometimes the word Rahal or Church is translated by the 70. the Synedrion b Prov. 26 26. and therefore the Apostles might well understand our Saviour by Church to mean the Elders and not the whole Congregation especially he speaking of judicial proceedings when the Elders came alone to the Church-meeting then but one trumpet sounded but if both trumpets sounded then both Elders and people met together in one Assembly c Num. 10 2 4. They that interpret the word Church of Elders and brethren of a particular Congregation are desired to shew where Elders and Brethren without women and children are called a Church 7. If there be an universal visible Church and Apostles Teachers Governments d 1 Cor. 12 28. be seated primarily in it and the whole is not subject to a part but the part to the whole then the neerer any Assembly of Churches combined comes to the universal visible Church the more authority it is invested withall and a general Councel is of more authority then a national and a national then a provincial Quest 19. It is granted that the Scripture doth warrant elective occasional Synods such as that was Acts 15. but doth it mention or warrant set stated Synodical Assemblies to meet monethly or yearly Answ This is but a circumstance of time which followeth necessarily the substance of the things if Synods sit they must sit in some time but what time or times they should sit doth depend upon circumstances and as the Church business requireth the Scripture mentions not any stated Ecclesiastical meeting for Government Synodical or Congregational that they should meet weekly monethly c. nor any set Church-meetings except the Lords day for preaching hearing fasting prayer thanksgiving conference yet the Church may upon occasion order weekly or monthly Congregational meetings according to the general Rules of Gods Word the same may be said of Synodical Assemblies 2. There is no such material difference between standing Synods and occasional neither in point of lawfulness nor power both for ought we know may be of like divine authority Triennial standing Parliaments may be as lawful and authoritative as occasional Parliaments 3. There may be standing Courts at Westminster though differences and suits in Law be occasional and a standing Colledg of Physitians though diseases be occasional 2. As to electiveness 1. It is contrary to Reason and Scripture that an erroneous and offending Congregation shall choose their own Judges seeing it is probable they will either choose none at all or such as they know before hand are likely to be of their Judgment 2. If those that are in the right should choose the Synod yet still the question will be who are in the right for of dissenting parties both pretend to it and neither will confess they are in the wrong 3. It a thing is agreed on that all the Churches in a Province being offended at a Particular Congregation may call that single Congregation to account yea all the Churches in a Nation may call one or more Congregations to account that they may convent and call before them any person within their bounds whom the Ecclesiastical business before them doth concern may examine admonish and in case of obstinacy declare them to be subverters of the faith may give advice to the Magistrate in matters
they are And lastly As for setled maintenance 1. The Scripture doth allude to a certain and setled maintenance that should be given to the Ministry s Ezek. 45 1 5 in comparing it with servants hire and wages t 1 Tim 5 18 and a soldiers pay v 1 Cor. 9 7 both which are certain 2. God doubtless hath as much care of the maintenance of the Ministers of the New Testament as of the Old shall we then think that he did allow the one certain maintenance which none could deprive them of and make the other uncapable of such maintenance 3. When a Minister hath set-maintenance he knows better how to proportion his living his alms his expences for the publike his provision for his children and how to keep hospitality 4. Tythes are not in one sence setled or stinted maintenance for they are more or less according as the Husbandman soweth and God prospereth as Corn is little or much good or bad well or ill gotten dear or cheap they that do receive Tythes do rise or fall with them that pay them 5. Magistrates should be nursing Fathers and Mothers to the Church w Isai 49 23 they should bring their glory and honor into it x Rev. 21 24 26 And may they not assign certain maintenance to the Ministers of the Gospel which they may do to their meanest servants yea to to the meanest men in the Kingdom if so they please But of this enough Quest 14. Who may lawfully be admitted into the Church Answ All that profess Faith and Repentance y Mat. 3 6 7. Acts 2 41 47 Acts 8 37 I speak of Jews Heathens and other strangers to the Church not of children born within the Church which may be baptized before any such personal profession and are to be accounted within the Church by virtue of their parents being within the Church except there be some just ground of personal prejudice against them as in the case of Saul whom the Apostles might well suspect to be still a Jew a Persecutor and a Spy and that he but assay'd to joyn himself to them to atchieve his wicked ends till they heard Barnabas his testomony concerning him z Act 9 26 27 28 But secondly there is no precept or president of the calling of Christians before they could be admitted into the Church to give account of the work of grace in their heart or of a Congregation judging whether that work was wrought or no or of their meeting together for prayer and mutual conference to be satisfied of the good estate one of another or of their deferring admission till they had such satisfaction nor did Jesus Christ as man know Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round a Jordan with whom he was baptized a Mat. 3 6 7 nor were John Baptist the Apostles and those thousands and myriades which they baptized satisfied in their consciences of the regeneration each of other esteeming each other to be a real Saint nor did the Jewish Church though called Saints b Psa 89. 5 7. Psa 149 1. Exo. 19 5 6 consist only of such which were at least in the judgment of Charity sincere Converts nor doth Pauls writing to the Church of Corinth called to be Saints evince that at the time of his writing to them much less before or after he did judg the Corinthian Church to consist wholy of true Saints the contrary is evident c 1 Cor. 3 1 2. 5 1 2 11 21. 2 Cor. 12 20 21 1 Cor. 15 34 The Churches charity is but a leaden rule no certain one some mens charity being more some less d Acts 15. 37 38 39 and the same mens charity being larger at sometimes then at others and to some men as those of their own opinions kinred benefactors c. then to others whence it followeth that some men may sometimes lawfully admit such which others yea themselves at other times may lawfully reject the case in it self being the very same Quest 15. How come particular Churches to be one in themselves and to be distinguished one from another Answ First Their habitation is in this case considerable it being agreeable to the Law of Nature and Scripture that there should be Parishes or Churches should be confined within convenient local limits For 1. else the members of a particular Church migh live 10. 20. 50 an 100. miles each from other without blame 2. The word constantly holds forth that the Christian inhabitants of a City Town or place were the Church in that City Town or place 3. Churches are usually denominated from places as the Church of Jerusalem Rome Antioch c. and Cities and Churches do expound one another a Acts 14 23. Titus 1 5. Acts 16 4 5 4. They that did remove their habitations did it's very probable fall into membership with those Churches whither they did remove b Act. 18 2 24 25 26 Rom. 16 2 5. If Church members be not resident amongst themselves how can Pastors be resident amongst them c 1 Pet 5 2 6. Cohabitation of Church-members hath divers paterns in Scripture uncontrolled by precepts and other paterns For no instance can be shewed that any dwelt neerer to one true Church though corrupt as Corinth Laodicea Sardis c. and was a member of a Church in another City or Town as Cenchrea or that any dwelt within the civil comunion of the members of a Church which is oft for worldly ends and was not a member of that Church or that Christians dwelling remote one from another were of one particular Congregation 7. That none but those that cohabite should be of one Congregation is required by Reason as well as Scripture 1. For their more commodious meeting together in publick with ease frequency less expence of time and money 2. Their more easie conversing with watching over comforting and relieving one another 3. For the preventing of confusion contention and offence 4. For the more convenient inspection over their Families that their Families as well as themselves do sanctifie the Sabbath and therefore if the Magistrate do command that Churches should have such and such convenient bounds his command is to be observed being according to Scripture and right Reason Secondly These Christians thus cohabiting are to chuse or to submit unto and maintain the same individual Church-Officers frequent the same numerical Sacraments and other Ordinances and so are easily enough distinguished from those Churches the members whereof dwell elsewhere and submit to other Officers and frequent other meeting places for Sacraments and other Ordinances Paul and Barnabas assembling themselves a whole year with the Church at Antioch are said to be within that Church d Acts 11 26 with 13 1 And this was the primitive way When many Christians were converted in a Town or City the Apostles ordeined them Elders e Acts 14 23 and the Elders and Christian inhabitants mutually performing
THE Main Points OF Church-Government AND DISCIPLINE Plainly and modestly handled by way of Question and Answer Very useful to such as either want Money to buy or Leasure to read larger Tracts LONDON Printed by J. M. for LUKE FAVVNE and are to be sold at his shop at the Parrot ni pauls Church-yard 1649. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader ALthough the worth of the Author and solidity of the matter of this book might sufficiently commend it self unto thy perusal yet I shall add this to its Commendation that 't is plain but profitable short but sound so that I may say of it as Tully did of Brutus his Laconical Epistle Quam multa quam paucis how much in a little Here is a great deal of matter in a few words he studyed brevity yet solidity in this small piece by the reading whereof not only the weak may be instructed but the strong also establisht in the truth which is the hearty desire of him who subscribes himself Thine in the Lord CHRISTOPHER LOVE A plain PLATFORM OF Presbyterial Government Catechistically and Methodically propounded QUEST I. WHat Government of the Church is most agreeable to the Word of GOD Answ The Government of the Church by Presbyters or Elders for they have the rule a Heb. 13. 7 17. 1 Tim. 5. 17. the keys which in the very notion of them do carry power and authority properly so called b Isa 22 22 Rev. 1. 18 3 7. are committed to them c Mat. 16. 19 and power to remit and retain sins d John 20 28 they feed and govern the flock e 1 Pet. 5. 2 Act. 20 17 28 and are over the people in the Lord f 1 Thes 5 12 they are Guides Leaders Bishops Governors Pastors which Titles in Scripture are used to expresse the power of Civill Magistrates g Josh 13. 21. Numb 31. 14. Mat. 27. 2. Jud. 8 14. Acts 23 14. Hence the Angels the Elders of the Churches are commended for good Discipline and reprehended for bad h Rev. 2. 2 6 14 20 Rev. 3. Quest 2. What kind of Government have Presbyters or Elders over the Church Answ Not Kingly Lordly or Magisterial power which onely belongs to Christ i 1 Pet. 5 3. 1 Cor. 8. 6. 12. 5 Psal 2 6 Col. 1. 18. Eph. 2 22. but Stewardly and Ministeriall k 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 5 20. Mat. 9. 38. Quest 3. From whom receive they their Stewardly and Ministeriall Power Answ From Jesus Christ l Mat. 16. 19. 28 18 19 20. Ioh. 20. 21 23. 2 Cor. 8. 10 they are his Stewards m 1 Cor 4 i. his Ministers and Embassadors n 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. having their Office from him o Eph 4. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Act. 20. 28 29. and they are to act in his name p Mat. 18. 19 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. and must give account to him q Heb. 13 17 18. Luc. 12. 41 42. Quest 4. But do they not receive their Governing Power and Authority from the Church or Body of the People Answ No though they be for the good and benefit of the General Visible Church and of particular Churches r Eph. 4. 7 10 11 12 2 Cor. 12. 14 and ought to make themselves servants thereunto as Jesus Christ and his Apostles which did not receive their authority from thence did s Math 20 26 27 28 2 Cor. 4. 5 Col. 1. 7. and though they be elected by the people yet they do not receive their Authoritie from them For 1. the power of Church-Government is not conveighed to the body of the people by any authentick grant or Commission from Jesus Christ as it is to the Officers 2. The people are not called Governors Guides Leaders as the Officers are but on the contrary are called the flock t Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2 the Saints u Hebr. 13 24. Phi 1. 1 as distinct from their Bishops Pastors Rulers to whom they are commanded to be subject and obedient w 1 Thess 5. 12 1 Tim. 5 17. Heb 13. 7 17. 3. The people have not received from Christ due gifts and qualifications for the exercise of Government and jurisdiction x 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 17 28 29 as Officers have y Ephel 4. 11 12 1 Tim 4. 14 4. It cannot be shewed that God in the Old or New Testament did erect any Church without Officers seeing Adam was a Priest to his wife a Gen. 4. 3 Ainsworth and family as Noah also was and the first born were Priests b Exod. 19 22 at the founding of the Jewish Church and Christ his Apostles were Officers in Commission at the founding of the Christian Churches 5. It is more absurd and irrational that all the males should govern in a Church then in a City or Common-wealth that the Elders should be subject to the people then that Magistrates should be subject to their subjects seeing the power of Church-government is derived not from the Law of Nature which placeth the Originall of Civill Government in the people but the Canon of Scripture which saith no such thing concerning Church-Government Nor 6. doth it warrant that the people should exercise power and authority in Preaching Ordaining Administration of Sacraments or censures therefore they have it not for such power is vain and impertinent as may not be drawn into act by them that have it and therefore Pastors Preaching Baptizing Ordaining c. do not put forth the peoples power but the power and authority of Jesus Christ c 2 Cor. 13 10. Math. 28. 19 20 Quest 5. You spake of a General Visible Church doth the Scripture hold out such a Church Answ Yes for 1. The Apostles which were General Officers to which a generall Church is the adequate correlative and had the care of all the Churches d 2 Cor. 11 28 are said to set put or placed in the Church e 1 Cor. 12 28 as speaking but of one Paul was a Minister of this Church f Col. 1. 25 2. That one body that one fold into which all both Jews and Gentiles are Baptized and brought g 1 Cor. 12 12 13. Eph 2. 16. 36 Joh. 10 16 mast needs be the universall visible Church 3. That house or Temple in which Antichrist did sit h 2 Thess 2. 4 that woman travelling i Rev. 12. 1 2. c. the Bride and Spouse of Christ k Rev. 21. 2 a child and in non-age under the Law and at full age under the Gospell l Gal. 4. 1 2 that assembly of 24 Elders and 4 Beasts m Rev. 4. that one Sion having many Assemblies in it n Isa 4. 5 that one City one new Jerusalem o Rev. 20. 9. 21. 2 that one Feast p Mat. 22. 2 field q Mit. 13. 24. floor r Mat. 3.
12. draw-net s Math. 13. 47 and the like are to be understood of the Universall Visible Church which is further in Scripture described to be Organicall t 1 Cor. 12 14 c. Rom. 12. 4 to 9. Ephes 4 4. with 11 12. Quest 6. But we read of Churches v Gal 1. 2. 1 Cor. 14 34. Acts 9. 31. in the plurall number of many Churches in the New Testament and therefore there is not onely one Church Ans These are the particular Churches I spake of of the same name and nature with the whole as the Sea is but one w Psa 95. 5 yet the severall parts of it washing severall shoars are called Seas x Psa 24 2 the dry Land but one y Gen. 1. 10 yet being possest by severall Nations under several climates divided by hills rivers and other boundaries is called Lands a Gen. 10 31 as Labans flocks having all one owner and probably all one mark are called one flock b Gen. 30. 31 32 36 38. 33. 13 as the free men of Rome where ever born or bred make but one Corporation c Act. 22. 3 with 28 hence the Church of Ephesus though a compleat particular Church is not called the whole City or houshold of God but fellow Citizens with the Saints viz. of other Churches and of the houshold As the Jewish Church was but one yet in regard of their Sabbath-convocations in their Synagogues d Lev. 23. 1 2 3 for hearing the Word read e Act. 15. 21 and preached f Act. 13. 14 15 16 for prayer g Act. 16. 13 for Rule and Government h Act. 13. 15. Joh 12 42. 9. 34. 16. 1 2 was called Congregations Churches i Psa 26. 12. 68 26. 74 4 8 As the Antichristian Churches of Italy Spain Germany are but one Where k Rev. 17 5. 18. 2 3. 19. 2 under one head the Pope so the Christian Churches of England Scotland Holland c. which have their Fathers name written in their foreheads l Rev. 14. 1 are but one woman m Rev. 12. 1 the one is the army under the Dragon the other under Michael n Rev. 12 7 and as a whole Army is oft times in the Originall Language of Scripture called a Church o 1 Sam. 17. 47 Ezek. 16 40. Jer. 50 9 and the severall Regiments and Companies are called Churches p Eze 26 7 so particular Churches and Antichristian conventions are as the severall Brigades Regiments or Companie of those two Armies Hence also the Church of God is called Army and Armies q Cant. 6 10 13 Vineyard and Vineyards r Cant. 7 12 8 11 12 Garden and Gardens s Cant. 6 2 as well as Church and Churches Quest 7. What sorts of Elders hath God appointed in his Church Answ Two sorts extraordinary as the Apostles t 1 Pet 5 1 2 Joh. v. 1 and ordinary as Pastors and Teachers v Acts 20 17 28. Tit. 1 5 The Apostles were to Teach and Rule not onely Churches but Pastors and Ministers also being men of an higher order w 1 Cor. 12 28. Eph. 4 11 immediatly called of God x Gal. 1 1 infallible in their doctrine y Gal. 1 7 8. 5 2 endowed with extraordinary gifts z Acts 2 1 2. 8 17 18 saw Christ in the flesh a Act. 1 21 1 Cor. 9 1 were injoyned ordinarily to travel abroad to plant Churches b Math. 28 19 might act authoritatively in any Church without a call or consent of men and might shake the dust off their feet against such Ministers or others as did not receive them c Math. 10 14 their commission was irrepealable the limits they agreed on were large d Gal 2 9 But a Minister is not of an higher order nor hath power over his fellow Ministers nor hath an immediate irrepealable Call not infallible nor in these times extraordinarily gifted hath not seen Jesus Christ in the flesh cannot exercise pastoral authority in an ordinary or occasional way without a call and consent of persons interested And lastly Pastors and Teachers are by succession to continue in the Church to the end of the world e Ephes 4 11 12 Rev. 12 6 11 2 3 whereas Apostleship continued in one age only for though Matthias was substituted in the room of Judas f Act. 1 25 yet none was substituted in the room of James g Act. 12 2 or of any other Apostle Quest 8. In what Church hath God set these Elders Answ In the Universal Church primarily h 1 Cor. 12 28. Eph. 4 11. Ro 12 and in particular Churches secundarily i Act. 13 1 Division of the Church into particular Congregations and fixing particular Elders to them is no further of divine institution then order and edification did first occasion and do still require it should be so as the whole Tribe of Levi sed all the Jews in common for ought we know while they were together Afterwards it may be the four Families of Levites as Aaron Cohath Gershon Metari did take more special charge of those Tribes that quartered on the same side of the Tabernacle that they did k Num. 2 3 10 18 25. with Numb 3 38 10 18 25 Sec Ainsworth in Num. 2 and then there was some division made and yet after that a further division was made when the Tribes of Israel came to be fixed in their several divisions and the Levites also were scattered and fixed amongst them for the better instruction of the people and had their maintenance by Lands and Tythes where they lived So the Apostles notwithstanding their general commission l Math. 28 19 20 Mar. 16 did feet the Church in common while there was but one particular Church and afterwards when Churches were multiplyed did for edification and orders sake agree upon a division of themselves m Gal. 2 9 though they were not very precise in observing it Peter preaching sometimes to the Gentiles and Paul to the Jews and had their several places ordinarily to officiate in n 2 Cor. 10 13 14 15 16 yea some probably think that they did disperse themselves into twelve parts of the world and the Greek text o Act. 1. 25 may if you put the comma after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fully bear this sense that Mathias might be sent that circuit which Judas had he not fallen should have gone and in likelyhood it was from this agreement that James notwithstanding his Apostolik commission was as general as the comission of the other Apostles did not travel abroad as the other did but stayd at Jerusalem as also some other Apostles after their travels betook themselves to residence in some one place as if they had been the fixed Pastors of those places respectively Those Apostles that travelled abroad did carry Ministers
the duties of their places became a Church together sufficiently distinguished from others and this is far from the Church-covenant urged by some it being only an agreement implyed in actions as when a man dwells in a Town joyns in chusing Constables and other Offices pays Lays and Taxes assists Officers and bears Office if required doth tacitly agree that he is one of that Town and yet we cannot say that he hath entred into covenant or that entring into covenant doth make him so Quest 16. How large or how little may particular Churches be Answ A Church must consist of more then two or three though when there was no more in the world but Adam and Eve they two made a Church if there was any for two or three were to give the second Admonition which if a man did not here they were to tell the Church f Math. 18 15 16 17. and therefore the Church must of necessity consist of more then two or three yea there should be in a Church a competent number to be Officers and Members at least the Members should be as a Flock that is many though there were no Officer but one Pastor The Churches in the Gospel were numerous consisting of thousands and that they might do so the Apostles planted Churches only in Cities and in great Towns Cenchrea the least was a much frequented populous and famous Haven-Town g Gualter in Rom. 16 so also were the Churches of Galatia Macedonia Judea placed in the Cities of those Countries as Antioch Laodicea Philippi Thessalonica Jerusalem Lidda c. and how numerous soever any Church did grow we read not that it was divided into two or more Churches or that there were more Churches then one in any one City or Town As it is acknowledged on all hands that a particular Church may consist of as many as may meet every Lords day in oue place for edification so it may be proved that the Church of Jerusalem did consist of more then did or could meet with edification in one place 1. By the multitude of Beleevers Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan were baptized by John h Mat. 3. 6 7 and the Disciples of Christ baptized more Disciples then John i Joh. 4. 1 and many of the people beleeved in Jesus k Joh 2. 23 7 31. 8 30 The Pharisees said the world is gone after him l Joh. 12 19 and after Christs ascension there were added 3000 souls m Act. 2 41 and 5000 n Act. 4. 4 and afterward the Disciples were multiplyed greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the faith o Act. 6. 1 7 Now all these which deserved to be called a City a World of people thousands and multitudes for the Holy Ghost at the last leaves numbering could not meet together in one place for hearing the Word For no one room in a private house could hold them all no one mans voyce could reach them much less could so many thousands orderly at once receive the Sacrament together nor could be accommodated with beds to sit lie or lean upon which was Christs gesture a Table to receive at and Cups to drink in and therefore they were constrained to sever themselves into divers companies for breaking of bread p Act 2 46 and to meet distributively in their private houses for that purpose Hence it is observable that though proof be offered by some that the Church of Jerusalem did meet together in the Temple to heat the Word which was common to Jews with Christians and to chuse Officers which is not every Lords day-work and to which the presence of women and children the greater half of the Church is not required yet not one word is brought to prove that they all met in one place to receive the Sacrament the chief Church-ordinance 2. Twelve Apostles q Math. 9. 35. 10 1 seventy Disciples r Luke 10 2 besides Elders mentioned Act. 11. s Act. 11. 30 as being extant before that time which doubtless were diligent Preachers in Jerusalem the chief place of their residence and could not all nor most of them be imployed once every Lords day if there was but one Congregation in Jerusalem 3. The Church that prayed for Peter met many of them in the house of Mary and others of them James and his brethren elsewhere t Act. 12. 5. with 12 17 so that Church did not meet in one place 4. It is said that Paul abode in Jerusalem with Peter fifteen days v Gal. 1. 18 and doubtless Peter and he frequented the Church-meetings yet he saw no other of the Apostles save James the Lords brother he saith not they were not in Jerusalem but he saw them not which had been very improbable if not impossible seeing the Apostles were diligent in preaching if there had been but one Church-meeting in Jerusalem more might be said to prove that the Church of Jerusalem consisted of more then one Congregation and instance of the like may be given in other Churches of Samaria Ephesus Corinth c. Q. 17. May not every Congregation enjoy all the Ordinances of God within it self Ans No 1. Synods are the Ordinances of God and cannot be had in a particular Congregation yea general Councels are the Ordinances of God and yet cannot be found in any less Church then the universal visible 2. A particular Congregation consisting only of private Members cannot enjoy ordination by Presbyters which is an ordinance of God nor can she in that state regularly partake in Sacraments and Censures therefore combination or consociation of Churches is useful and needful in the aforesaid cases as also in case of a particular Churches insufficiency to transact her own business in case of business of common concernment to more Churches then one in case of an incompetent particular Eldership of appellation of presumed mal-administration of divisions in a particular Church of differences between Churches of spreading Heresies indangering Truth Peace decision of hard questions direction in hard cases or the like w Act. 15 Quest 18. Doth the Scripture warrant the use and subordination of Congregational Classical Provincial National and Oecumenical Assemblies Ans Yes it doth For 1. of Congregational Assemblies no question is made 2. The proving of the Church of Jerusalem to consist of more Congregations then one and their Elders questionless convening for Acts of government of those Congregations doth also prove the warrantableness of a Classical Assembly 3. There being warrant sufficient for combination of Churches and the Scripture not limiting it to such or such limits beyond which it may not exceed doth sufficiently warrant the greater combinations as occasion may require them and they may with conveniency be had the Scripture doth not determine those cases in which a Church may call neighboring Churches together for advice nor with how many Churches or with what Churches