. si / /£< '4u& 1 /r^ ~£j2_ - -<-- £jZ—> — 1 / ? cs/ 4/ i> t fli 9 '.r O ioTij' ' W / A ' U i - 71 Vi 01 C| • >j ■• - i ■'■lit 4 TO T H E Reverend AfE-nbly of Divines affcmbled at hsttminSler. Lverend,' and much honoured Fathers and Brethren, it is a received MaximefThat publickjlghty andtnte- refts are to be preferred before private and particular • Spirituall ? before fecular j divine before humane. ,Now'as the ip ter nail fpirituaU government of Chrifl in the mvifibie Churchfs far more excellent then any other: foalfohis ext email vifible government ofthe vifible Churchy hath thepreheminence above all vifible civillgovernments and Kingdoms of this world. -And if it be lave full even for private perfons to vin¬ dicate, by humane haws , the extent s and rights of their particular civill inheritances andpoffeffions : and if it be accounted the duty of good fubjecls to vindicate the extents and rights of their civill Seve- ragns Dominions , with their Efiates and Lives „ even by the Sn ord • then much more is it the duty of Chrtfis Sub]d: s,by difputes and ar¬ gumentations to vindicate the extents and rights of C hr iBs ext email political Kingdom \ the one being but of civill concernment, the other divine ; the one tending but to a civill end, the other a fpiritual. And therefore 1 hope none will blame me for appearing in public f to con¬ tend for the extent and rights of Chrifl s politic all Kingdome in his Church here on earth. My firfi Thefis on this SubjeB was compofed for the private tife of my [elf , and forne few neighbour Miniflers 5 in a monthly private meeting, according to our cufiome . But being made pub-’ lick j at the defires of others , it met with ofpofition from two re¬ verend Brethren : firfi by M. John Ellis junior , who undertookl to confute it, with other Trattates of divers of my betters that were written of the fame fubjett : and fecondl/ by Reverend M. Hoo- A 2 ker. The Epiftle Dedicatory. kcr, who is fince departed out of the vifible militant Churchy into the tnvifible ‘Triumphant ; the Ioffe of which burning and fhining light , the Church of God cannotfuffciently lament. Now becaufe fome things therein fet down wer e by them mijial^en } and other things not [o fully cleared , as I defired , I thought good to fc it out again more enlarged , and vindicated from the mi flakes and apportions that it met wit hall- 'The reafons of my fo long delay herein were , Fir}ly becaufe I was the leafl and leaft concerned therein , though the mofi tartly dealt wit hall by M . Elli?. And fecondly , becaufe I dejired to fee fome of my betters go before mey in vindication of their own Tractates of the fame fub)efl. And thirdly , becaufe I under flood by M. Ellis’.? boolfy and by common fame , that there was an anf wer to M. Ru • thedord coming outy wherein. / fhould find my queflton difeuffed 5 by that eminent and worthy Divine M. Hooker, which was indeed fent over ? but perifhed in the feay and fo was retarded one year Ion - gery untill it c ould be tranfenbedy and fent over again. And fince that was printed , the feat of the warr % by the ftege of Colchciter , coming fo near Wy we were all in a fear and danger , fo that l thought it no fit time to attend to controverfies : and 1 had indeed almofi laid it quite afidey but that the importunities of fome y and the tnfultings of others excited mee again to take it in hand. And now I find a fourfold unhappineffe hath betided me herein. Fir fly The darkneffe and fiubhmhy of the Sub) ell , which I could no way make plain , jo as to be under flood by vulgar apprehenfjows , becaufe the handling thereof put me neceffarily upon t he ufeof fb many latine words , and logtcall te:ms of arty whichare not ufually nnderflood by comman people. A nd therefore defpairing to be under - food but by thofe that had fome skill in the Latine tongue } and in Lo - gicky I have fet down the words oj fuch A ut hours as I have had occa - fion to cite y in their own languages y in which I found them> left other- wife this Traclatefhouldfwell too great, A f econd unhappineffe Ly that this Tenet feemeth to croffe fo ma¬ ny of our own Divines, in their writings againfl the Papifls. But indeed it doth one ly feemfiiy for it is mamfejl that the Church-C a- thohek^ which they intendy is not the fame with this that I have to deal about* For they fipeak^ of the Church-Catholicise onfifiing onely of the El e fly and I con fent unto them that that Church is invifible * but The Epiftie Dedicatory, _ . ■ - - . ■ ■ ■- - - --- -V - but my quejhon is about the ex?email flate of the Churchy containing hypocrites as well as thofethat are truly godly, in which Church the 0 din antes of worjhtp and difcipline were fet. A third is, that I am fallen upon a fubjell wherein / can find f° f cw before me, and therefore could have the leffe help from Authours. A fourth is, that I being a mean C ou ntrty - Ah in ifi or, want both thofe abilities and opportunities, to enable me to write of controver- fies, having confiant employment of preaching in mine own Congre¬ gation, and frequently abroad , lying upon me, fo that l cannot at¬ tend polemicall Divinity , as they mufi that undertake fitch a ! work. * My principal (cope in this and the. former Thefts, is to prove that there is one Church - Catholicvifible on earth : and that Gods in¬ tention and donation of the Ordinances of worfhip and difcipl'ne, was firfi to the whole Church, and fecondanly to the particular Church¬ es, as parts thereof And yet I acknowledge the ordinary and con¬ fiant exercife of thofe Ordinances is primarily in the particular Chur¬ ches , and afecondary and onely occafional exercife of them in greater parts thereof and a very rare exercife of them in the whole conjun- ctim upon fome general extraordinary occafon, and that can be no o- therwife, then by delegated commiffi oners from the feveral parts of the whole, when convenible . If it be cone eve d by any, that fome of the Arguments in this Tra¬ ctate are multiplied more then is needfull, and are laid down more fingly then was meet, / will not deny it: Be pleafed in the reading ^ of them to confider them together , and l hope they will prove conclu - five. 1 find alfio by the review of this Trail ate, that feme things are offer touched upon then 1 was aware of: be pleafed to impute it part - ly to my forgetfulneffe, andpartly to mine endeavour to follow the me - thod of my former Thefts, and yet to anfwer what was objected agawfl it by others , n ho followed their own methods, which occafioned fome co • incidency. And fnce the tr.anfcribing of it for the Preffe, there came to my hands two other Trail at es about the fame fubjeli , written from N. E. the one in Latine by that reverend and worthy M. Norton , Mimfier ^rlpfwich there, in anfwer to Apollonius; the other by A 3 two The Epiftle Dedicatory. two river end Aiimfters , viz, Ad, Alim 3 and Ad. Shepard, in an- fryer to Ad. Ball* Jt grieved me much that Ifaw them no fooner : I have onely in - ferted a few annotations upon thofc traCt at es 3 beeaufe I was loath to make a Poftfcnpt ; and becauf ? I found that mo ft of the material paf* fages in them concerning this fubjetk, were already fpoken unto in this this b ookj 1 have now fh ewe d mine opinion on this cjueft ion 3 and fubmit it to your fage and mature judgment and (kould be glad that my bet¬ ters would (hew me theirs 3 & either ccrrett what l have erred or fail¬ ed in^ormake more clec.r what I have mdeavoured to prove and defend. If I have herein erred 5 / would not willingly be an hereticbut fh all b twilling upon convittion and proof to retract the fame , but if I ■have defended a truth (as I conceive I have ) I fhould be glad to be confirmed in it 3 and gladder to have the truth confirmed , that it may .appear fo to others, Now God the Father , who'is the God of truth*, and Jefiits Chrift 3 ■who is the way , the truth , and the life ; and the holy Ghoft 3 who is the Spirit of truth; guide you and ns into all truth . So prayeth 3 Your unworthy fellow-labourer in the Lord, 5 'eptemb' 8. 164P. S a m u e i Hudson* AN ' _ _ ^ Epiftle to the Reader. He Reverend Authour of this learned Tra&ate, feme few years ago, did put for th a Book about the Ejfence and Unity of the Church- Catholfck;, vifible^ and the priority thereof in regard of parti¬ cular Churches . This Book was written with fo much ingenuity, perfpicuky, and learning, that Reverend and godly M, Hooker is pleafed to pafle his judge¬ ment upon the Authour znd his Book in thefe words-; W.hih-e- Survey of 1 voas enquiring and writing touching this Ecclefia Catbolica vi-Church- libilis, an efpeciallprovidence brought a book^ to my view , which did difcipline. purpofely entreat of this particular Jubjeft;,The Authour M. Hudfon pag. 1*5. a learned man and a faith full Afmifler of the Gofpelf when I had conjidered his writing J\U $ iflsy I foundh is jugdment {harp-and fcholafiicalf his ffirit Chrifiian and moderate , his expreffion fuc- cintb and pregnantly plain to expreffe his own apprehenjions : So that my heart was much contented with the acumen-and judicious diligence of the Authour , though I could not confent to what hee writ-) yet 1 could not but unfainedly prize the learning y pirfpicu- ity andpainfulneffe exprejfed in his writing. To this Book (by him fo much commended ) he returns an anfwer , and before him one M. John Ellis junior. And it feems there are two o- ther Tra&ates about the fame fubjeft written from N. E. 7 *he one by M. Norton jn anfwer to Apollonius , the other by -M. Al¬ len and M. Shepherd in anfwer to M. Ball. For the truth is, the pofition there held forth, if granted, would utterly overthrow the.-- - ' - - — To the Reader, f Aft. 15. Mar. 18 . 17 . -Peut.17.8,^ 10, it, 12. 1 14. the grounds and pillars of the Congregationali^overnment. For if there be a Church-Catholick^ vtfible, and this Church be notoriety a Church-Entitle but a Church Organically and a To- tum integrate having all Church-power habitually feared in the Officers of it, which they have commiffion from Chrijl to exert, and put into all upon a law full call, slnd if particular Congregations are into grail parts and members of the Church-Catholic^ as the few iff Synagogues were of the Jewifb Church. And if the Mini* firy, Ordinances, and cenfures were given by Chrifi firjl to the Church-generall vtfble, and fecondarily to the Church particular. Then it will neceflarily follow. That the particular Congregate on is not the firjl receptacle of Church-power. And that all Church - power is not inttrely and independently in a particular Congregation, which arc two of the chief foundations of the Congregational! government* I (hall not at all Ipeak to the firft, but as for this laft, 7 hat all Church-ptwer is folely and independently in a particu • lar Congregation, it feems to me not onely to be conti ary to the Scriptures", 6ut to the very light of nature, and to carry many great abfurdides with it. For, 1. It takes away all authoritative appeals , and all autho¬ ritative waits-of uniting particular Churches one with ano¬ ther. 2 Then the Churches of Jefus Chrift (hould have no Ghurch- communion in difeipline one with another. They may have Chri - flian-communion, but no Church-communion, 3. Then no Minifter could preach as an Officer out out ofhis own Congregation, but onely as a gifted br other ^and as a private Chrifiian. 4. Then no Mtnifisr could adminifter the Sacraments ( which is an aft of office ) out of his own Congregation, nor (as I con¬ ceive ) give the Sacrament to a member cf another Congrega¬ tion. 5. Then when his particular Church is diffolved, hee ceafeth to be a Minifter, and muff receive a New Ordina¬ tion. 6 . Then a Minifter baptizing a childe, baptizeth him onely into his own Congregation, For if he be not an Officer o (the Catholiff Church, he cannot baptize into the CatholickChurch, which ■? To the Reader. which is dircftly contrary to i Cor . 12.13. 7* Then when the Offi;er« excommunicate a perfon, he fhould onely be excommunicated out of that particular Congre¬ gation,^. 8. Then Chrift fhould have as many intire bodies as particu¬ lar Congregations', Chrift fhould not onely have one Body where¬ of particular Congregations are part, but eveiy Congregation (hould be a Body of Chrift by it felf. p. It would make way for toleration of herefies and blafphe- mies, and let in a6 many religions as there are particular Con¬ gregations. 10 It would make the Churches of Chrift ftand divided one from another in refpeft of government, and thereby bring ruine upon one another. Even as in a civill State, if particular Corporations fhould be independent from the whole in point of government, it would quickly bring deftru&ioo upon the whole. For the removing of thefe and fuch like abfurdicie*, This learned and judicious Authour in the Book fore-mentioned laid down a quite contrary Thefis. That there is a Catholic!^ vifible^ organicaU Churchy to wh’ch Ordinances and confutes are fir ft ly given by Jeftu Chrift . And that every Minifies is featedby God in this Catholic^ vifible Church , and hath a virtuall andhabitual power to preach at a Minifter in any place where hefh all be law* fully called. Indeed he is not an aftuall Minifter of the Church- Catholick, nor hath a&ually the charge of the whole Church as the Apoftles had : but habitually onely by reafon ofthein- definite nefie of his office. He hath power in attu prime by vir¬ tue of his office, though not tn attu fecundo five exercito , hee hath jusadrem every where, but not inre any where, without a call. He is a Minifter of Jefus Chnft, and thereby hath right and power to perform the a&s belonging to his office, but for the execution of it, there is required a call thereun¬ to. This pofitioixis oppofed and confuted by the fore-named Authours. And in anfwer to them ( but efpecially to M. Hoo¬ ker and M. Ellis ) This Reverend Minifter hath here written a Fwdi&Sion v which he hath done with fo much meeknefle, [a] mode' To the Reader, moderation, ingenuity, perspicuity and learning, that if that) holy man of God M. Hooker were alive, I doubt not but he would pafie the fame judgment upon this Book which hec did upon the former. The truth if, The Quezon is full of difficulty and in tricacy, the path in which he walks is an un- trodden path, and the pains which he hath taken in the compi¬ ling of this work , and the learning which he hath difeo- vered herein is io great, as I am very confident, That whom¬ ever reads the Book^ will commend the A at hour and his abilities , though he jhould not in every thing recent his opinion. The Scope of the Book is to contend for the extents and rights of Ghrifts Politicall Kingdom in his Ghnrch upon earth, ^ndtodemon- ftrate the unity of it, and thereby to lay a foundation of unity between particular Churches, whLh is as necedary for the pre¬ fer vation of them, as purity and verity. For a Church divided again ft it felf cannotft and. Sad it is to confider. That whereas Jefus Ghrift hath left two waies for the uniting of Chriftians in faith and love, the devill ffiould make ufe of both of them to difunite and divide us. The firft is, The Sacrament of the Lords Supper, which was Inftitu'.ed to be a Lead of Love , and a BandofVnion between Chriftians, but by Satans cunning it hath proved an apple of flnfe and of great contention, not onely between the Papifts and the Protfft ants y the Lutherans and the Calviniftsy but be¬ tween jjyalfo, and our diffenting brethren. Thefecondis, The Government of iht Churchy which was ordained by Chrift to bee rt Ufa yet^iaj/uvy and as a. golden chain to link them together in purity, verity and unity, to heal breaches, and to make us mind the fame things, and to be perfeUly joyned together in the fame mind , anciin the fame judgmenty But by thedevills policy ( whofe property it is to bring evill out of good ) it is become the great bone of contention, and a middle wall ofpatition between Chrifti- ans and Chriflians. This is a lament at ion ^ and fkall be for a lamen¬ tation. But my comfort is, Thar Jefus Chrift came into the world to remove the wall of partition that was between Jew and Gentile, and to make both one , and he is not only a foundation fione fir his people to build their faith and hope upon, but alfo To the Reader. alfo a corner ft one to unite beletvcrs one to another. He it is that wil (hortly remove all thefe Wals of partition between brethren , and will become not onely our Redeemer, but our Peace-makjr. For he hath prayd for all thofe that Ihould beleeve in him. That they may be one, as thou Rather art in me, and Itn thee, that they 7^, 17.21. alfo may be one with us, that the world may believe t hat thou haft fent J me. knd the glory which thou haft given me, I have given them, that they maybe one evn as we are one* This Praier will in due time be fulfilled, together with thoft three foul-comforting Pro¬ phecies concerning the times of the New Tcfiament, Jer. 32. 39. Zeph. 3.9. Zach. 14. 9* In the mean time it is our duty to ftudy unity as well as purity. To this the Apoftle exhorts us with great earneftneffe and affe&ion, 1 Cor. 1.10. Phil.2. 1,2,3. ^ph* 4* 3,4,556. This the prefent times call for with a loud voices And this ftall be the care and praier of Your unworthy fervant in the work of the Miniftry. Edmund Galamy. This Leaf being forgotten to be inferted tn the former .part of thu 7 hefs y it woe thought fit to adde it here. M. Norton a reverend Minifte'r in NE. in his Treatifeofthe Do&rin* of Godlinefle, printed fince his anfwer to Apollomtu , defiileth the Church-Catholick to be the number of the eleft and redeemed, whom God hath called out of the world unto a fupematurall eftate and communion of grace and glory With himfelf in Jefus Ghrift. And affirms* that there is but one Ca- thoJick Church, becaufe there it but one faith. And then comes to diftinguiffi this Catficlick Church in refpeft ofits ad- jun&s into invifible and vifible. And then defines a vifible Church to be a fimilar part of the Catholick Church, confifting of a competent number, knit together by way of vifible Cove¬ nant, toexercifean holy communion with God in Chrift, and fo one with another, according to the order of the Gofpell* And then diftinguiffieth this vifible Church into pure and im¬ pure ; impure into three branches,^/*. Simply erring, Schifma- tlcall, 1 Heretical. And then makes the matter of this vifible Church to be Saints *.e. vifible believers. From whence wee have thefe conceffions. i. That the-te is a Church-Catholick which is but one. 2 ^ That this Church Catholiek is vifible, yea, let me add further out of his anfwer to Apollonius , Politic a vijibtlifas eft ad}unUumrefpeUu Ecelefia Catholic £y pag. 87. *• e. Political vifibility is an adjuntt in refpeft of the Church Catho- lick. 3, That this Church-Catholick is an integral. 4. That the particular Churches are fimilar parts of that integral, 5 .1 hat thefe particular Churches confift of vifible believers, which as himfelf in his anfwer to ApoHoniue , confefleth are not all Saints in truth, but many of them onely xj 1 in appearance. 6 . Thatfome of thefe vifible Churches may bee impure, not only fimply erring, butfchifmaticall, yea, here¬ tical!. But ( faving my honourable refpeft to fo worthy a man ) I cannot fee how thefe things are confident with his definition of the Chuch*Catholiek .* for how can the Church-Catholick confift onely of the eletSt redeemed ones f called out of the world into a fuperna^arall eftate, and yet the particular Churches which which are limiter ( and conftituenc) parts of it, confift of mem¬ bers that are ( many ofthem)only Saints in appearance, and not in truth s yea, fome whole Churches erring, fchifmaticali, heretical. Now fuch matter as the particular viable Churches, which are the members of the Catholick confift of, fuch mud the Church-Catholick confift of, which is the hmilar integral. And though fuch as are onely Saints in appearance, and not in truth, are faid by M. Norton in his anfwer to Apollonius, p. 87. to be equivocal 1 members of particular Churches, yet are they as truly members of the whole as they are of the parts, and they are fo far true as that their external! communion and ad- miniftrations ( if any fuch be Officers) are true and valid, both In relpeft of the particular Churches, and the Catholick, quoad externumfiatum. And it is his own rule, Resf. p.88» Quicquid ineft parti ineft toti y that which is in the par t is in the whole. And again he faith Ecclefta Catholtca & Ecclefta particularet communi¬ cant ejfentia & nomine : & Ecclefta particulares , pro vart is earum ratton'tbns habent fe utpartes & ut adjuntta Eclefia Catholtca. Ex natura 9 & ex rat tone fmt ut res i, e. fmilares: ut ma¬ te appellatur aqua 9 it a & qualibtt gutta mans apptllatur aqua. Rcfp. pag. 87* therefore they muft needs confift of the fame kind of matter, at they are both vifible. A TABLE Of the chief things contained in this Tra&ate. Chapter, i* 7 he explication of the terms of the Quefl'ton. Page i. Seftion i. Hat is meant by Ecclcfia or Church. It is taken in a civill and theological! fenfe. In a theological fenfe: i. Primarily and properly for the whole company of the eletty which is called the Invijible Church , * 2 2 For the company of vipble heleevers. 3 For the members at diftinftfrom the Officers of the Church. 4 For the Elders or Covernours of the Church as dflintt from the body . 3 5 For the faithfull in fome one family. 4 ( Seftion 2. What is meant by vifible. // The diftinftion of the vifible and invifible Church opened* The dijftrence between vifibile & vifum. The Churches mentioned in the N. T, were vifible Churches. 6 uin objeSl ion oft he abfurdity of wicked mens being members of the bo * dy of Chrifly anfwered by a diflinBion of Chrifts body. 7he diftinttion of the Church into vifible and invifible is not exaft. 8 ' 7 he invifible members of the Church are alfo vifible* ^ What a Church vipble is. s ‘ a The defcription vindicated from fome objections againfl it. 1 o Seftion 3. The Table. Seftion 3. What is meant by Catholick^pniverfal, or oecumenicall* 1 1 Four acceptations 0) the word Catholic^ and which of them fmt the queftion What the univerfall vijible Church is. 12 Diverge descriptions of it-, and quotations out of Divines both ancient and modern about it. 13 Wha t a Nat ion a l Church is . 15 Dtverfe proofs from Scripture for a Nationall Church under the Gofpell. The defeription of a particular vifible Church given bp Gerfom Bu- CZX\l*,fcanned. 17 JIF. Cotton’s defeription of a vifible. 1$ Four Queries about it propounded. 1. Whether the matter of it conjijleth only of Saints called out of the world ? 2. Whether every particular vijible Church be a mj flic all body of Chrijly or but only a part of it } feeing C hr iff hathbut one myfii- call body the fame fenfe > 3. Whether the form of a particular vifible Church be a particular Covenant ? 19 4. Whether all the Ordinances of Cod can be enjoyed in a particular vifible Church > 20 Which for fome of them feemeth very inconvenient . And for others mpojfible • M. Nortons defeription of a particular Church. 22 A Congregational Church Handing alone ^ hardly found in the New Tejl ament. Se&ion 4* What is meant by Prima vel fecundaria & orta. 23 The primity of the Church - Catholickjn a threefold refpett, 24 The difference between this quefiion and M. Parkers. Chapter. 2. Proofs'by Scripture for a Church-Catholtck vifible. 25 Se&ion 1. Our Divines in anfwer to the Papiffsy mean by Church-Catholick^ the tnvifible Church onely* 2 6 let The Table* let is there alfo an external viable Kingdom of Cbrift , as mil as an int email and invifble. M. Hookers acknowledgment of a politic all body or Kingdom of Chrifi on earth . , 27 D. Ames tefiimonie of a Church-Cat holic kjvijible. 28 Seftion. 2. Diverfe proofs out of the Old Heft ament for a C hrtrcb- C atkolick* ytjible. 29 Seftion 3. Diverfe proofs out of the New Tefiament for a Chttrcb-C at belief vifibte. 31 Aft. g.3. and Gal. 1.13' vindicated . Aft* 2. 47. vindicated . 33 1 Cor. 10.32. vindicated . 35 Gal. 4. 26 . opened. 3 37 Eph. 4.10. vindicated , 38 Seftion 4 ; iGor. 12.28 vindicated . 39 7 m> anfwersof M. Hookers concerning this text conpdered . 40 Diverfe anfwers to this text by M. Ellis, refuted . 41 ObjeBion of M. Hookers Deacons fet in the fame Church where Apofiles were fet , 4 nfweredr 51 Seftion 5. 1 Tim. 3. 15. vindicated • 53 Diverfe texts vindicated where the Church-Catholick. is called the Kingdome of God and the Kingdome ofheaven y 5 5 Af. Hookers anfwer to thofe texts conpdered . iCor. 15.24 • vindicated* 56 Heb. 12 28. vindicated, L 57 Seftion 6 . 1 Cor. 5.12. vindicated » 5 8 Eph. 4.4,5. vindicated . 5 9 Mat* it?. 18• vindicated, 60 M. Hookers acknowledgment that this text is meant of the vifible Church. 61 3. Ep. c/John ver, 1 o» vindicated. 4 2 C b ] Chapter The Table. Chapter 3* Proofs by arguments and reafon that there is a Church-Catholic f vffible, 64 Se&ion i, 1 From Gods donation unto Chrift of an univerfa/ Kingdom. - 2 From Gods intention in fending Chrift , and the tenottr of Gods ex¬ hibition of Chrtjt in his Word to-the whole world. 6 5 From the general preaching and receiving of the Goffiel. 66 4 From the general Charter whereby the Church is conjhtuted. Seflion. 2. 5. From the'generality of the Officers of the Church , and general donation of the Mint ft ry 6j 6 From the general vocation wherewith 5 and general Covenant rehereinto all Chnfltans are called . 68 7 From the generality of the initial feat, admittance and enrollment ; 69 5 From the external catholic^ union between allvijihle Chrifiians . ‘ " , 7 ° Settion 3. 9 from the individualfyfteme or badpof laws ( proceeding-from the fame authority ) whereby the whole is governed. I o- From the general , external communing intercourfe and comma - nicat ion bet ween all Chrifltansi 71 II From the general extenfion of excommunication . 73 12 If there be parts of the Church’-Catholickjhere is a whole s Se&ion 4, Many metaphors in Scripture fitting forth the whole Church under an unity 74, Ch apter 4. That the Church-Catholic^ vifble is one Integral } or Totum In-* tegrale. Se&ibn 1. F irfl , Negatively , that it is not a Genus* 7 7, I Becaufe a Genus is drawn by mentalabflraVtion ofCpec\e$ r but the C atholickyifible is made up by .conjunlhon or apportion of the fe~ veral members^ % A Genus hath m ewftence of its own. which the Church-Catho - / iff vifible hath « The Table. 3 .It appears by the definition of a Genus, both according to the Ra- mifts and Ariftotelians, neither of which can agree to the Church- Catholick* Se&ion2. Secondly, Affirmatively, that it is an Integral. 1 Becaufe it hath an exiflence of its own, which no Genus hath. 2 Becaufe the particular Churches conflitute the Oecumenical,which hath partes extra partes. 3 Becaufe it. is made up not onely of particular Churches, but ofpar-* ticular believers aljo « 4 Becaufe it hath accidents and adjunffs of itf own , exijhng tn it, 8o It is capable of being greater or leffe. It is mutable and fiuxile. 8 i It is meafured by time and place. Se&ion 3* 3 Becaufe it hath admiffion into it , nutrition and edification in it, and ejection out of it. 6 Becaufe it hath an head and Governour of the fame nature,as man, and Officers on earth, that are habitualliindefinite Officers to the whole. 82 7 Becaufe it hath aSlions and operations of the whole 8 It appears by the fever at appellations given to it in the Scripture . 84 9 It appears by the Scripture-expreffions of the union of the members of the wole Church. 8 & jq Becaufe the wvifible Church may in fome fenfe be called an Inte¬ gral, therefore much more the.vifible. 87 Stftion 4. jin Objection from the poffible contraction of the Church-Catholic into narrow limits, anfwered . Whether every effentialpredication will make the arguments to be Ge¬ nus and Species- 8? Whether the right tn the Ordinances and privileges of the Church arift from the common nature and qualifications in believers, or from 4 Covenant. 9 ^ If from a Coven ant yv he t her from a particular Covenant between man and man, or the general Covenant between God and man. «ft - [b 2 ] The The Table. Ike variation of fitua tion or accidents vary not the fpecies. Ellis’.** 171 SeCtion 8. Then the whole is to honour and contribute to the maintenance of eve¬ ry Mmtfier. 173 Then the Minifiers perform not their whole office to the Congregation that maintains them . 174, This will be too great a burthen for Minifiers to meddle in the affairs of many Congregations* Then Minifiers exercife rule where they do not ordinarily preach, fa the keys fhould not be commenfur able . ,175 SeCtion 7. j This was a grand objection formerly againfi the Bijhopfythat they ru* led where they preached not . 176 Then great and fiubborn per fens will never be brought to cenfure. This will occafm much trouble and charge to the party grieved. Synods are in danger of erring as well as particular memberfhips* 177 SeCtion* 10. The libiterty of appeals proved . But why then fhould Chrifi let bis Church want general Councils fa long, 178 But how then date particular Churches abrogate the decrees of gene¬ ral Councils « 17 p Chapter 8. anfwer to M. Ellis’.* Prejudices , Probabilities 9 and Demonfira- tions againfi an univerfal / 9 vtfible ( and as he calls it) governing ( but fhould have [aid organic all) Churchy And his wrong ftating ofthe Quefiton reUified . 180 * is ' ■ j . SeCtion r* What M. Ellis denyeth to be the quefiton* I. He fatth it is not meant of the ejfenttal onenefs• Anfw, But this is me ant , and is the foundation of the other. The Table. 2 . It is not ([atth he ) meant of engagement to mutual care on / another • 182 Anfw. Not amicitiall or fr at email only,but authoritative,the greater ■part to regulate thelefs . 3. Nor is it meant (faith he) of a voluntary ajfociation , as occafion requires for mutual affifiance. Anfw. Their ajfociation , though it be neceffary, yet it is voluntary , but not arbitrary. 4. jW it meant (faith he ) whether all or mofi Churches may oc¬ cafion ally become one by meffenger, in a general Council • 183 Allfw. jThis is the highefi effett this unity produceth. Se&ion, 2. What M. Ellis grants in this queflion . 1. An authoritative power from Chrifi to make dirsBions and rules jo whsch the confctence is bound to fubmit,and which are to be obeyed , not only becaufe materiallygood, but becaufe formally theirs • Anfw.’ 'This is even as much as the Presbyterians defire. But this he denies to be done by Church • Officers,as Officers. 184 2. If the umverfal Church were convenible t he grants what is con¬ tended for. Anfw. The pans may rule themfelves ( being fimilar ) as well as the whole,the whole. - 185 Se&ion 3. M. Ellis’* corrupt fating of the quefiton in diverfe places, 186 Apollonius and the London-Mini fters vindicated . 187 The particular Churches aB not by commiffion from the general* 188 The whole company ofChrifiians on earth are notin their ordinary fet - led Church -confiitution , one fingle aBuall Corporation but habi- tuall . 189 Yet there may be caufes to draw the Officers of many Congregations together,yea, haply fome Officers from the whole Church,if it could be, occafionally • T <^ 0 The Minifiers are not a&ually Minifies of the whole Church fiut ha¬ bitually. They are given to the whole Church, as the Levites to the whole houfe of Ifrael . ip A [*3 Seftion The Table, Seftion 4. Anfwers to M. Ellis’/ prejudices, probabilities, and demonftrations • 192 His Objettioit of novelty, anfwered. That the Church is one habitually, and that the particular Churches bear the relation of members to it, is not novel* 7 hat the Miniflers are Mini&ers beyond their own Congregations,and can perform duties au thoritativcly, is not novel'* Dtverfe inflances given thereof out of Scripture* Diverfe Canons regulate Miniflers in the exerctfe of their functions abroad, but none deny them power , 1 p^ Diver fe inflances out of antiquity. jp^ Frequent covent ions of Synods and Councils anciently,and their ailing author it at ively. 3 p£l Five anfwers of M. Ellis’/ hereunto, confldered of j py Se&ion 5, M. Ellis’/ witneffes againfi the unity and integrality of the Church confldered , viz. Chryfoflome,Clemens,Alexandrinus,Cyprian,Au - gufltne, Eu chert ms , 'and the Council of Trent* jpg That it is not novel in refpetl ofProteftant Divines* 201 Some quotations out of Calv in, &c . 202 Seftion. 6 . M. Ellis"/ prejudice from the dangerous confequcnces of this opinion anfwered. 203 Seftion 7. Another prejudice that it is Papal and Antiproteftant, anfwered* 20 $ Sc&ion 8*.. M- Ellis’/ arguments anfwered. 206 His firfi argument from the plence of the Scripture herein. 2. From the inflitution of Chrifi. 2 07 3. From the flrfi execution of the great eft att of imire power exerci- fed in a particular Congregat ion, 1 Cor. 5. 208 4. Becaufe intire power was committed to particular men, viz. the A- poftles fever ally, and to all jointly. 5. From the reproofs given by\ C hr/fl to the feven Churches af Afla,in the Revelations , Se&ion - The Table. Se&ion 9. JJis fecottd fort of Arguments from the matter and members of the Church % anfwered , 209 Seftion 10 • A third fort of arguments is from the form and nature of all bodies & corporations y which confift offuperiour and infer tour anfweredy 210 Six pretended inconveniences anfwered. 2 11 Section 11. A fourth fort of arguments from the authoursof this opinioKyanfaered. 212 An objection that the whole world is one humane fociety , and yet this makes them not one Kingdom politically , anfwered, 213 The fecond Qyeftion. Whether the Church-Catholicl^ vifibky or Churches be firji. the particular Se&ion i* What kjnde of priority is meant here > 1. Negatively y not a priority of time. 2. Not in regard of conftitution by aggregation and combination. 3 1 Not in regard of or dinary operation. But pofitvoeljy the vijible Charch-Catholickjs prime, I. In Gods intention. 2 • In regard of Gods Infiitution. 3. In regard of Gods donation of Ordinances and priviledges . 4. In regard of dignity, 5. In regard, of perfection, 6. In regard of the ejfence or entitiveneffe. 7. In regard of efficient minifterial caufality. S. In regard ofdifiintt and per fell knowledge or nofcibility. The difference between ortum and fccundarium, Se&ion 2. 216 217 218 The firfi argument for the priority of the viftble Chur cb-Cathelick from the names that are given to the Church in Scripture. 219 l c *3 The The Table. 7 he feccrd argument is because the Covenant, Promifles , Laws and k rtvtledges primarily belong to the C atholick^Church. The Covenant , commiffion for gathering the Evangelical Churchy the promifes made to it,and Laws of it.proved to be univerfal. 22 o» The Frivtledges are aljo Catholic^ 1. E ederal holinefs is a priviledge of the Catholicb Church, 221 2. Right to the Ordinances of Chrilf. 222 Proved in regard of baptifm. 223. And the Lords Supper. 224 Hearing of the Wordy and joining in Praier . 225 The Query about the Ordinances of Difcipltne difcuffedi 22 6 1 Every member of the Church (though but entitive ) is bound to fubmit thereto. 2. Every Mmifter hath an habitual indefinite power r annexed to his ofice to adminifler them t ; r • 3. The Ordinances of difcipltne were fir ft given to general Paftors, 227 4. The cenfares difpenfed have influence into the whole Church. 5. Otherwise great inconvenience will follow. 6. All polities adminiftcr juft ice to ftr angers offending within their limits. And the like fewer mu ft be allowed to Ecc leftafti cal polities. . StSion 3. 7 he third argument is becaufe Chrifts Officers are ftr ft intended for , and executed on the C hurch-C at hoileft. 2 28 The fourth argument is becaufe the ligns to difference the true Church from a falfe,be long prima rily to the whole . 229 The fifth argument is becaufe. aU the members are members of the Church-C atholickjprimarily. 2 30 Both thofe that are born members, and thofe converted. This illuftrated by three ftmilitudes. 23.1 Se&ion 4. The fixth argument is becaufe the Minifters are primarily Minifters of the Church-Catholick. 23 2 Diverfe proofs hereof. 7 he abfurd conferences of binding, the ATinifters office to his par - ; ; j ~ " ttcular The Table. ticular Congregation only. 233 The Minijfers office and power ceafeth not by the diffolution of his par¬ ticular flocks 23$ An Ob)ettton again]} this by M.h\\tn^and M a Shepherd y takenfrom the ceajing of the ruling Elder or Deacons office 3 at fuch ciiffclutwn , anfwered* *36 It appears becaufe the cenfure of excommunication infilled by parti¬ cular Officers 3 reacheth the whole Church vifible, 23 7 The difiintlions of formally and virtually 3 and of antecedenter 8c confequenter, difeu fed- 238 It appears alfo becaufe particular Officers admit into the Church- Catholick by Baptifm, 23? Baptizing is an all of the mtnifteriall office. All are baptized into one body- Many examples of perfons bap tized without relation to any particu¬ lar Congregations. Though it be objetted that this was done by extraordinary Officers , yet this falves it not 3 becaufe if it be an Ordinance belonging to parti¬ cular , congregational members y thefe being not fo 3 they could have no right to receive it 3 no jus in re. 240 Some are called Minifiers in Scripture in regard of more Congregati¬ ons then one. 241 And ruled in common over more Congregations then 0 ne. Seftion 5. The feventh argument is 3 becaufe every Chrifiian bears his firfi rela¬ tion to the Church-Gatholtcky and that relation continueth lafi.and cannot be broke n]of without fin. 242 Hence fir angers tried where they rejide for the p r efenr, Ephefus commended for tryingfir angers, Rev. 2. 2. Hon- communion is a fentence denounced againfi fir angers. Heretickj and fa/fe teachers not fixed mufi not be fuffcred¬ it is no Jin to remove from one Congregation to another. 243 The eighth argument isjbecaufe particular Churches fpring from the Church-Catholiekjy and are an addnament thereto. 244 The Church-Catholic is as the main Ocean f and the particular as . the Arms thereof, A double rife of particular Churches out of the Catholic !> 3 ] 24s Firfi 9 The Table. firfi , they are made up of members of the Church-Catholick. y i. e. of 'viftble believers• Secondly , ^<7 find the Church-Catholic^ conjlituted and invefied be¬ fore their addition. Firfi } the Ghurch-C atholick^ is infirumental to their converfion. Secondly , and gives them mi nifter tally their admittance^ both into the Church entitive and organical. Section 6. What is fufficient in foro tXterno to make a man a member of the Church Catholickjvifible. 246 The abfurdities of accounting true believers only members of the vi- fible Church. Apollonius and M. Norton cited. Ob). Holmefs of dedication is founded on holinefs of fanCHftcation^anm fivered. 247 Infiances out of the Old and New Te(lament for the contrary, Ter final and Ecclefiaftical judgment differ. 248 The rules of the invifible Church Jerve not for the vifible. There are the fame qualification for the members of the Church-Ca- tholickyifible , as for the particular Churches . 249 Two Objections againfi the priority of the Church-C at holiday an- fwered. 250 The conclufion of the premifes. 25 3 Se&ion 7. Corollaries from the former Thefts, 254 24 Corollaries concerning the Chur ch'C at hoick: j 2 Concerning particular Churches , 255 7 C oncerntng the publicly Officers of the Church. 256 1 2 Concerning private members. 257 Se&ion S. An application of the Thefts bewailing our divifion, 258 Firfi , in judgment . 259 Dtverfe errours reckoned up that are broached, Secondly , in heart and affieiiions. 260 Thirdly t in way orprattice , 261 An exhortation to unity in all the fe three refpetts, ■ 262 THE I THE Eilence and Unity OF THE Ghurch-Catholick vifiblc, & j c. # Qu E S T. Virum Ecclefia vijibilis nnivcrfalk jive Oecumenica. fit pri - marvel fecnndaria & orta a particular ibus ? Whether the vifible Church* Catholkk, or the parti¬ cular Churches be firff ? ... ;. > ■ Chapter i. “the Explication of the Teams. [Or the handling of thisQueftion,here are thfcfe four tearms to be opened. Firft,What is meant by Eccle- fia^or Church ? Secondly,What by %’ ifibrils yor vifible'! Thirdly,What by univerfalls yfive oecumenica^ or ttni - verfaland, oecumenical ? Fourthly, What by prim a and ort ay or the firfi Churchy and that which rifeth of it or fecondary ? Firft, What a Church is ? The word Church is taken in a ci- Sell, i, vil or theological fenfe. In a civ HI fen fey for a company of people fummon’d,or gathered together for fome civil affairs,/#?. 19 39. Itfhalbe determined in a lawfulaffemblyitht word in the Original is ixx\W• 2. So Ad. 5. 11* Fear came upon all theChurch. Nowit cannot be conceived that they were all ek& that feared that judgement of God, So iTim.<$. i6.Letnot the Church be charged with them , that it may relieve widows indeed. Now weeannot conceive that onely the eleft gave colleftion,but the whole number of profeffors, which yet are called the Church, In Ecclefia plurimi funt permixti bypocritaj qui nihil Chrifii hi- benty prater titu/um & fpeciem. Calvin Infiitut. lib. 4, cap. 1. fed. 7. Thirdly, the word Church is fometimes taken for the mem¬ bers a What is mean: by Church. bers of the Church as diftinft from the officers, Aft. 15 . ver. 22. j ’Ihen fieafed it the Ape files andElders with the whole Church* And * ' ver, 4. They were received of the Church, and of the Apoftks and Eiders. And this was before their convention in the Synod. And ^ 4 #. 14.23* Fourthly, the word Church foinetimes fignifieth the Gover¬ nors of the Church , to whom of right h bclongeth to admini* fter and difpenfe the cenfures of the Church. Mat , 1817. If he will not hear them , tell it to the Churchy ie. the Minifferia* Church, where Chrift ieemeih to me tofptak of a Church (hat was in pre- fent being among the Jews-, becaufe he applies his fpeech to the capacity of the Jews prefent s Let him beta thee as an- heathen and Tubltcan , who might not have communion with Heathens* and would not with Publicans, but ChriPrians might eat and d ink with both ; and the lame ccurle by analogy was to be taken by Chriftians when they ho d Churches fet up,,as it followeth^r* 18 I y.whatfoever yeJhall bmd on earthy 8cc» Now we know that matters ©f complaint were not among the Jews brought onto the Aiiembly or body of the people , but to their Elders and Rulers. And the word Kahal , which iigni- fieth Ee cleft a or Church, is frequently ufed in the Old Teftaruent for a Court of Eiders 3 not onely Eccleliaftical , but even civil. See 1 Chron 13. ver . 1,2, 4. And 1 Chron. 29. i, 10, 20. And 2 Chron.iy > ver.2%$ 1^2. And 2 Chron. 33.2,4. called Pfalm. 82- 1. Ihe Congregation of the Gods. Compare alio Hum. 35*12, 24,25. and Dent. 19. 12. with Jojh. 20.4,6. By Congregation in one place, is impounded Elders in the other, Alfo Exod. 12.3. with v.2i*Deut,% 1. 28* H'Hpn zuKhAtTiIffocn gather me the Ei¬ ders, or make a Church of Elders. The fame word we find 1 King. 8. 1. of afiembling the Elders of Ifrael. And 1 Chro. 28. l, of Davids afiembling the Elders. The Septuagint trar.f- late KahalEcclefia y or Church,by 'ZuAdpiov^Prov. 26.26. His wic- kednefle (hall befhewed before the whole Congregation, i* euvtfptu Compare alfoD«*r.2 3.1,2,3,8 No baftard, Ammonite, Moabite, &c. might enter into Kahal , the Congregation, which is rendrtd by the heft Divines to be Confeffus Judicum , the con¬ gregation of Judges. For by Exo. 12.48,49. and Num.v 5 14,15. and 9,14. and Lev.22. 18. All ftrangers upon circumcilion were B admitted 4 Chap. i. SecU 2 . What meant by Vifible, admitted into the Congregation ol the people to offer tpGod as well as lfraelites. Demofthenes ufeth the word pro , concicwe magnatum, faith Fafor, It is very frequent in the Scri¬ pture to fpeak of executing of judgment and juftice, and put¬ ting away of evil from the Congregation, indefinitely by ye and than, as ifit were fpoken to the whole Congregation , which was don- by the Eiders and J udges onely, judicially: Levit. 15. 3^. Deut i 5 .j The Chu ch is diftinguilhed into VtfbleztA Invijible , which yet are not two diftinft Churches or fpecies of Churches, but it is a diftribution of the Subjettbythe Adjunft, viz,, a duphei mode commmionis , externo & inter no. Such ashave fpiritual commu¬ nion wirh Chrift, wobiv inwardly, are faid to be Invijible mem¬ bers , which areontly known to God, and not to meB, having this feal, 7 he Lord hnoweth who are hie Such as have excernal commuuion in outward Ordinances t&Oey, they are called via¬ ble members-, becaufe their communion is vifible and apparent. 1 gram the internal communion is invifible , but the external is as vifible as ol any civil fociety : and God’s Ordinances are as vifibiy adminiftred, as juffice at the Seffions or Aflkzes , and the profellion ol Chriftianity is as vifible as the profellion of any trade : the general calling to be Chriftians by profellion , is as vifible as the particular calling and trade of life. The inward grace is indeed invifible, but the outward adminiftration of the Ordinance?,and communion in them, is vifible, i. e. perceptible by the fences. And this external communion in the Ordinances, though it were diftributively in the feveral places where men live (which is conhffed by all)wculd ferve my turn for this que- ftion which I have in hand. But vifible taken in the fenfe which M .Ellis- 5 IVhat meant by Vifible. fSli. Ellis cakes it in, in his VindicU Catholic* , for that which $ ^ mo intuitu videtur, is feen with one view, was not my meaning, ** and therefore to expound it fo, which he knows I did not, is to prevaricate, as he chargethme,/>^.59* livifibUy /.e.that which may be feen, and vifum y t\\^z which is Teen aftually } be the fame, then is not the world vifible. But when we fay the whole world is viiible, 'here is requited an aft of the mind : we conceive that all countries are vifible as well as our own; and if we were there we might fee them. They cannot be faid to be invifible, becaufe we fee them not aftually. Nam vifibile eft quod videri pot eft, It - Cet nunquam videtur. Vifible is that which may be feen , though it be never aBuaHy feen t Fideri poteft 3 or may be feen , is referred to the capability cf the objeft to be feen, not to the particular aft of every agent at all times. But take vifible in his fenfe, Quod um intuitu videri pot eft , as a Kingdom reprefentadve in a Parlament. Isa Parlament onely vifible to fuch as do aftually fee it, and invifible to all others ? Is it not vifible becaufe not vifum > Men know it may be feen, though they fee it not; though they exer- cife their knowledg onely about ir, and not their fences,yet that makes it not a genusy or fecundanotio : It is viiible, though not aftually feen, Cameron de Ecclefi* confpicuitatey pag. 245, faith the Church is vifible as the world is: we cannot fee the whole world together,but fecundum partes,fuccejfive,non uno obtuitu ; at- tamen nulla eft pars terra habitabilis qua non pofftt cerni. Now onely the invifible company have internal fpiritual com- munion,and are eleft; many of thofe that have external commu¬ nion and are vifible members, fhall perifii. And yet by 1 mou of their profeffion are faid 2 Thef. 1. ver. 1. To be in God the Father,andthe Lord Jefiu ChriftydLi Aims alfoconfefleth, Ame\. med, lib. 1. cap. 32- art. 9. Such was the Church of Corinth and Ephefus , &c. wherein all were not in communion for life. And of fuch Chrift lpeaketh, Joh. 15.2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruity he takes away , And verfe 6. If a man abideth not in me, hee is caft forth as a branch, and is withered , and men gather themy and caft them into the fire, and they are burned. The (e are fai^ to be redeemed, 2 Pet, 2. j, denying the Lord that bought therk. And fanftified , Hebr. 10. 2 £ • And hath accounted the blood B 2 of 6 7 he diftin&ion of the vijtble Chap* I ... - of the Covenant wherewith he was jewelifie an unholy thing. And in Pauls eX ;.dnKiis to hisEpdRes, To the Church of God , to them that are fanttified in Chrift fefus, called to be faints, iGorimh. i* verf- 2 i heie art called the fons of God, Gen. 6* ver. 2. And Dent. 14 v r- 1. It is fpokenot dead in general, Yeare the chil¬ dren of the Lord your God. And Gal, 3, 26 , Ye are all the children of God by faith in Chrift, Jefus. Now it is not to be conceived that all the manhersot the Churches in Galatia were true believers. They are called the children of the Kingdom , Mat. 8> 12. u e. reputed fo, but yet many of them were caft out into utter darknefs. And ABs 3.25, Ye are: the children of the Covenant which God made with our fathers .. Their advantage by being of the viiible body was great every manner of way 3 Rom. 3. ver. 1.2. To thtm pertained the adopti¬ on, Rom. 9 . ver. 4. andthegbory , and the Covenanted the giving fifths Law, and the fervice of God,and the promtfes. Which adopti¬ on is not internal adoption ( proper onely to true believer* ) for itds a privilege belonging to the body of that people; but it is the honour of being feparated and reputed the children of God, and {0 to live under the excernal Covenant and iervice of God, andpromifes, though they had not grace to improve them. They are called,Row. 11.17. branches of the true Ohve,pa.r- taking of the root and fitneffe of the Olive , which were broken off, and others ingraffed in their room, which cannot be meant of the invisible company of deft,but the viiible Church, Goddid not blot feme out of his book of eleftion, and put others in ; or break off any true believers, and graff others in, but onely out of their vifibJe Church, ftanding, and partaking in outward Ordi¬ nances. Objett, But is not this abfurd,that Ohrid flhould have wicked men, who are limbs of Satan, to be of his myfticai body? Car¬ nal wicked men to be members of fuch a gracious^ioricus head? Anftp. If by myfticai body be meant the .company of deft, faithful ones that, are knit to Chrift by the Spirit on his parr, and by faith on their part , and receive fpiritual fap and virtue, and grace from Chrift internally ; it were altogether abfurd to fappofeany limb of Satan were fo .* but myfticai body is taken ijLpppofition to a natural and civil body. Now draw a word and tnvifible Church. (as fuppofe h«d) fr m t, ?nd ^ • «Wufej and head will fig.,die a King, who is called a dvi head and then drawdt to a tWjfiea/«/e,and it is called a my- fiical ufe of that word, and fo Chrift is called a fplritual or mi, flical head,sand the Church amyftical body. And in this fenfe myftical and orgamcal are competitor , for both vifible and in- vifible members may befaid to be of the myftical body of Chrift though m a different relpeS in regard of their communion, the one vifible oncly, the other not onely vifibly but alfoinvifibly And in this fenfe M .Cotton in his Docfrwe of theChurch calls a nar- ticular Church a myftical body of Chrift, wherein all are no^ of the znvifible company. And as the body admits of fuch a diftin- «ion, fo doth the head alfo ,, for Chrift affordeth fpiritual communion to fomc inwardly, as well as outwardly by Or¬ dinances, even faying graces and comforts by the Spirit of grace;to others only outwardly by Ordinances,and by common works of his Spirit. In the fame fenfe that a vifible Church may be called a myftica 1 body of Chrift, Chrift may alfo be called a myftical head thereof. As Chrift terms himfelfa Matter , fo he hath evil, flothfu , unfaithful fervants and ftewards : as a. King, be hath rebells that will not have him to rule over them, even in his Church, Mat, 2 y. .26- Luk ip, 14,. as a Ihepherdhee hath goats as well as ffeep ; Mat. 2^.32. as a houlholder hee hath veffelsofdifhoneuras well as honour, 2 T/>*,2. 20. Mau 2 5. ver. 2. as a bridegroom he hath foolifti virgins as well as Wile myitedto the wedding: as. a husbandman,he hathtares among his wheat. Mat 1 3.25. as a filherman,hehath rubbilh in his net as well as good Bib,Mat 1 3-.47.as a vine,he hath unfruit¬ ful branches as wellas fruitful 9 J 0 h. 15. 6. Chrift faith, my peo¬ ple are foolift i .they have,not.known me fottilh children that have no undeftanding, that are wife to do evil, buttodogood they have no knowledge, Jer. 4.22. yea,ftubborn and rebellious people, Jn th# N* T, there were fome in the Church off orimL 1 n ° r 11 *• 1 ' aC ^ ! d n f 0t r ^ e k*ovt>ledg of God , ■ denying the re fur* rett on,- gurlcy of drunkennefs. u the Lord’s table , guilty of for* unclearmefs, and lafeiv/oufnefs , and had n,t repen *- ed. And pit. 1. i<$. Paul Ipeaks of fome in the Church, that/w- ' jefedtbey kn SW Cod, , fytp m Tmk* denied him , fang abominable^ , B 3 difcbe*r <;§ The diJHnUiott of the vifible dfcbedient , and to every good worker eprobate. And 2 Tim.,^, <5. hap. 1. Having a form of godlimjfe 3 and denying the power thereof And Thil. 3-ver, 18,19. Enemies :o the croffe ofChrift 3 whofe end is dcJlnt&io/J j Ww/e fW # their belly , in their (frame , jv/w mind earthly things. See what m nner of perfons Jude fpeaks of in 12,13, andi 6 verl'eg. Spots in their feafis of charity , feeding themfelves without fear , clouds without water , carried about with windes , trees whofe fruit wtthereth , without fruity twice dead , plucked up by the roots , raging waves of the fea 3 ft* mingout their own fhame , w an dering fiars , fm gent is aut reg~ i -ni , yua confrat ex diverfs & multis Ecclejiis Paroch 1 alibus s c - uno rcgimme Ecclefaflico junflis , & mutud qua dam commit ■ 1 niom & focietate Fcclefiafhcd 7nfib Hi inter fe divinfix. See clear proofs for National! Churches under the Go'pdl, I fa. 35. ver. 5. 1 houfh At call a Nat ion which thou knew eft not. and Niti- ons which knew not thee^fh allrun unto thee . 1c is fpoken of Chriih under the Gofpd. And there is fet down both Gods call of a Nation , and a Nationsanfwer 10 thatcatt. A nd thefe two things are fufheient to make a Church. Alto, If a, j£, 24.25 • I nth at day C3 pm A National CJmrch proved by Scripture. [hall Ifrael be a third with Egypt, and with Affyna, even a blef- jing in the midfb of the land, whom the Lord of hofls fhall blejfe , faying, Blejfed bee Egypt my people, and AJfyna the worf of my hands, and Ifrael mine inheritance. It is a prophecy of the times under the Gofpel , where Egypt and Affyria are pro- miied to bee called in, to bee Churches as well as Ifrael, and are preferred in order before Ifrael , however it is clear thofe three Nations are owned, and bleffed by God as three fifter- Ghurches. AUo, Pfal. 72. i j, 17. All Kings fhall fall down be¬ fore him, all Nations fhall frrve him . All Nations (hall call him blef• fed, i. e. Chrift, Mat. 21. 43, ‘lhe Kingdom of God fhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, Rom. 1 o* 19. 1 will provoke you to jealoufe by then that are no peo¬ ple, and by afoolifh Nation will I anger you, i. e. God chooling the Gentile Nations, and giving them the priviledges of the Jews, it fhould anger the Jews,and provoke them to jealcufie,/p«65.1. 1 faid , behold me, behold me , to a Nation that was, not cal¬ led by my name. The Comrnillion of the Apotiles was to go teach and baptize all Nations ( not Congregations onely ) i. e. fome of all Nations, if they received the Chriftian faiths and the whole Nations, if the whole received ic, Mieh. 4.2. Many Nations fhall come and fay , Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk-in his paths. I fa, 52* 1 5 * hie (hall fprinkge many Nations, j. e. with his grace, Jer. 4. 2. Lhe Nations (hall blefje themfelves in him, andmhtm fhall they £> lory • And Rom. 4, 17. Abraham is faid to be a father of many Nations in a fpirituall fenle, as well as a carnall. In thee fhall all the Nations of the earth be bleffed. He is faid to bee the father of us all. Rev, 11.15 .Lhe Kingdoms of this wo) Id are be¬ come the Kingdoms of our Lord , and of his Chrifi. The Ecclefiafti- eall polities in converted Kingdoms, are faid to be commenfu- rable to the civil!, R.ev. 21. 24, The Nations of them that are fa- ved fhall waif in the light of it,i. e. of the new Jerufalem, Zac , 2 • 11 . Many Nations fhall be joined unto the Lord in that day, and fhall bet my people. Whereby wee fee the current of the Scri- pturerun*,that God not onely would convert Congregations out cf feverall Nations, but the whole Nations which alfo he performed, and many whole Nations joined themfelves to the Lord ? What a particular Church is. Lord, & made Chriftian Kingdoms or Common-wealths,though g■g they proceeded not from the loins of one man, as the Israelites did, whichfome make the ground of the Nationall Church of the Jews: yet we know there were proielytes of all Nations that were members of that Church ,and had right to all the Ordinan¬ ces as well as the Ifi aelite?, and fer vams that came not out of A - bra hams loins. And by the fame reafon when a part of a Nationall Church (hall join in particular confociation and community in a City or Province, or Clallis, they may receive denomination from thenceuhe o .e containing a greater part of the Church-Catho- lick, the other a Icffe. For the Chureh-Catholick being a jimilar bod/ retains the name Church, in what parts, parcels, or quantities foever it bee divided into, for convenient community, untill it be brought in minimum quod ficjii the Philofophers fay, i. e. in to the leaft parrs that can injoy publick communion in Ordinance?, which is a particular Congregation.The div lion of the Church-Catholick into particular Congregations, feemeth to me to bee no further of divine inilitution, then as it fitly ferveth for order and edi¬ fication,,by cohabitation, for injoymenc ol Gods Ordinances together pubJickly ( as the Jewilh Church was divided by Syna¬ gogues, for their confhnt enjoyment of Word, praier, and difei- pline, which they could not conftantly enjoy, as a Nationall Church, by their Nationall worlhip thrice in the year ) and the fame reafon will by proportion carry it for Clafiicall, Provinci- all,and Nationall divifions, for community of a greater part of the Church, Gerfom Bucerus in differt. de Gub E cclef. p. n. hath this de- feription of a particular Church. Nos par lieu larem Eccle(lam~ intelligimus quemlibet ere dent ium cat urn in unam vocationem divi- nam , Evangelii pradicatione , [acrarumq } Inflitutionum obfer- vatione adunatum , ac um presb/tcrio fubjunttum, facros verb convent ns uno ant pluribus locis agitantem, Nam parceciarum in cjutbus convenitur numerws , accident aria res efl^ nihiljtd Eccle - Jta particularis effentiam per tine ns. Now this feeineth tomeeto bee a difeription of a Presby terial or Glafllcali Church, and fo not 5 ® divide the Chyrch-Catholick into any lelfe parts, for the enjoyment „ . \ ' i8 Chap* i What a particular Church is, injoyment of ail the aliiall publick Ordinances, then a Presby- teriailjCiaOicall Church : and io, though it be a defcription of a particular Church indeed, yet nog of the leaft particular Church. M. Cotton a reverend Minifter in AT, E. in his Doftrine of the Church telsuSjthat a viftble Church is a myftical body,whereof Chrift is the heady he Afembers,Saints called out of the world,and united to¬ gether into one Congregation, by an holy Covenant, to worfhip the Lord , and to edifie one another in all his holy Ordinances . But ( with due refpeft to fo grave and worthy a man ) much of this defcription feems to me to belong to an invifible Church, and not to a vifible. Firft, becaufe the matter thereof is the myfticall body of Ghrift, confifting onely of Saints cal¬ led ( not onely from Idols, but) out of the world, and there¬ fore truly godly ; but much of the world is in the viiih|e Church, Secondly, Every Congregation, though it be in fome fenfe of the myfticall body of Chrift, yet is not the, or a myftical body of Ghrift, for Chrift hath but one myftical! body; it behoov* eth therefore a particular Church to bedefined with reference to the reft of the body, and not to the head onely, it being but a part of the body. It would feem ftrange to define the little toe to beea body made up of fiefti, blood and bone, of fuch a figure, informed by the head, without declaring the reference of it to the reft of the body. Or a Corporation in England to beea body politick whereof the King is the head or Sovereign, without mentioning its reference to the reft ofthe Kingdom , whereof it is but a part, and fo the King , the head or gover- nour thereof, but fecondarily,ic being a part of that Kingdom whereof he was Sovereign. It is true, the Apoftle faith, the head of every man is Chrift, i Cor, chap, il, ver, 3. i. e. they ate of the body of Chrift. So it may be faid of every Congregation, Chrift £3 the head thereof, and that it is of his body or Kingdom vifible Ecclefiaflical, but then we muft add ihat which the Apoftle doth ofthe Church of Corinth, 1 Cot . 12. 27. Now ye are the body of Chrift , iy lx. ftpve, i. e. members of a part , rfndred in the oM Englifh EranOation, Members for your part: in the new, Mem¬ bers in particular. On which words faith Bez.a in his large notes upon What a particular Church is. I upon the place, hi am omnef Ecclefr* per orbem differ ]#, diverfa § ^ funt unins corporis membra . And the Engliffi Annotations upon the Bible, paraphrafe it thus. Ihat is , members of this Church of Corinth , which is but a part of the Catholic ^ Chrifiian Church : for all the faithfttll wberefoever they are t mal{e the whole body : you Cor¬ inthians are not the whole body , but members onely^ neither all the mem* berr 9 but a part onely of them. Paraeus renders it partiatim, Peter Martyr , Vos eflis pars memhrorum• Thirdly, \ dare not make a particular explicite holy covenant to be the form of a particular Church, as this definition feetneth to do, becaufe I finde no men¬ tion of any fuch Covenant,befides the general impofed on Chur¬ ches, nor example or warrant for it in all the Scriptures, and therefore cannot account it an Ordinance ofGod, but a pruden¬ tial humane device to keep the members together, which in fome places and cafes may haply be of good ufe, fo it be not urged as an Ordinance of God, and fo it be not ufed to inthral any, and abridge thejn of liberty of removal into other places and Con¬ gregations, for their convenience 5 or urged as the form of a Church. I deny not but mutual confent of perfons within fuch a vicinity , to joyn together conftantly in the Ordinances of God under the infpe&ion of (uch and fuchefficers,is requifice to a par¬ ticular Congregation. But it is the generall preceding Covenant fealed bybaptifm, and not this that makes them of the body of Chrift : they muft be conceived to be of the vifible body of Chrift, before they can be fit members to conftitutea particular Congregation .* neither is it this particular Covenant that givech right to the Ordinances of God, but the general, and therefore they muft be judged to have right thereto before they be admitted as members of the Congregation. Onely this mutual joyn- ing together, and choice of fuch and fiich a Paftor or Teach¬ er or ruling Elders, givethfuch Officers & call to takeimmedi- ateinfpe&ion over them, and adminifter the O/dinances of God belonging to their offices, unto them , to which they had right before their particular confociation, wh'ch is but an ac¬ cidentary thing, and may many waies be dilfolved, and yet they not lofe their right to God’s Ordinances by that diflblu- tion. Such a confirm, joyning,and call of, or lubmitting to a D Presbytery, 3 * 9 All Ordinances cannot be in]oyed Presbytery, giveth to thole Elder* right of exercifing of their of¬ fices over,or towards them,rather then over others,and to them, to expeft or require the Ordinance of God from thofe particular Officers, rather then from others. Fourthly, lor the enjoyment of all the Ordinances of God in one Congregation, it feemeth to mee very inconvenient for fomeofthe Ordinances, and altogether impoilible for other*. Firfi, It is inconvenient, that a Church confiding of feven, ten, twenty, or thirty, Ihould inflift the formidable fentence of ex* communication againft any perfon,to caft him out of communi¬ on, not only with themfelvs, but the whole Church*Catholick vifibje, and deliver him up to Satan. For if it be infli&ed by the votes of the w hole Congregation (as fome would have it) many of the members being private men, and haply altogether illite¬ rate and unexperienced, through want of age, education, or parts, are not able to underftand the nature of the allegations and probations, they may bee fo intricate, or not able to apply the rule unto the cafe, for infli&ing of a juft cenfure: and may be in danger to bear particular favour or ill will unto their per- fons, and (o apt to be fwayed by love, pity or hopes from them, or to bee over-awed by fears or threatnings, being poor men, fervants, children, workmen, tenants: and therefore our brethren for Congregationall Churches, have of late, feeing this inconvenience, debarred the people from votes, and put it into the hands of the El’ders onely. See M. Gottons keys of the Church* Yea, even the Elders of one Congregation may be in danger ofthe fame temptations, becaufe of particular relations, and their dept ndance on them for maintenance. Butfuppofe they were as free as Angels from temptations or infirmities ( which they are not) yet the weightinefle and folemnity of the cenfure would require to bee performed by a Colledge of Elders of a combined Presbytery, that fo it being not pafted by the votes of three or four onely, but by the joint advice, confent and au¬ thority of a combined Presbytery, may bee the more dreadfull to the party, and bee the better accepted and fubmicted unto, without heart-burning and grudge againft the particular Elders, or fears of revenge. Yet I deny not power in the Elders of the particular in a Congregational Church. 91 particular Congregation, with the confent of the Congrcga-^^ tion, to exercife even that fentence upon an offender, if there bee a notorious clear caule: but I fpeak in regard of conveni- ency,in refpeft of the Elders,or the caufe,or the perfon on whom it is to bee inflitted, who may bee of civill eminency and de¬ gree &c. It is worthy of note which Zanchy faith in this cafe. In pra- sept, 4. pag, 388. St Ecclefia alt qua exigua fit y & non mult is eru- dttis hominibw confians , non debet exeommnnicationem ferre y nifi vicinionbus consult is Ecclefiis, Profetlo neque Chirurgus , fi fit timens Dei & prudens , fcindit alicui manum ant brachtum y nifi add tat prins victnornm etiam peritorum medi corum judicium atque fententiam• Secondly, It is impoflible for one Congregation to enjoy all the Ordinances of God Within themfelves, Firft, Synods and Councils are acknowledged to be an Ordinance of God, and particularly by that reverend divine M. Cotton himfelf, and he groundeth it on Alls 15. And though fome of our brethren for Congregational Churches wave that place, yet grant the things and are members of one at this time y and this Ordinance all men will grant, cannot be had in one Congregation, but fom- times requires the help of a whole Province , Kingdom , yea many Kingdoms, Yea fecondly, the Ordinances that more neerly and particularly concern a particular Congregation, cannot be per¬ formed by that alone. For how can a Congregation,of private Chriftians try the fufficiency of an Elder y to bee ele&ed over them, to labour in Word and Dottrine? and if they have a tryed man among them, who (halite him impofition of hands, which belongeth onely unto Elders of the fame kinds to per¬ form? Neither have our brethren of Congregationall Chur¬ ches ( whatever their judgment is herein ) ever dared ( as far as I have heard) to permit private members to impofe hands on their Elders, but always defired Elders of other Congregati¬ ons to do it, and therefore they cannot have this Ordinance within themfelves. And though this feemcth to fome a thing of fmall moment, yea, but a complement, yet it is an Ordi¬ nance of God. The truth is, eleftion is but a nomination of a man which they think fit to bee invefted with, and put into fuch D 2 an 22 All Ordinances cannot be injoyed Chap. l an office , and to whom to inverted they are willing to fubmit themfelves in the Lord, but thatgiveth no power at all to eXe- jsutethe office, nor doth it invert him with it, for that is given and done by Ordination* and impofition of hands, which they cannot give, becaufe they are but private Chriftians oul of of¬ fice, and the leflfe ought to be bkfled of the greater. And the AportleH^. 6,12. reckoneth it up amongft the principles of Religion , and part of the foundation. Which place Hen. Jacob urgeth vehemently to overthrow the lawfulneffe and eflence of all the Minifters of the Church of England , becaufe ( faith he ) they have erred in the foundation, not having right * and due impofition of hands of the Presbytery : though by his leave, hee was miftaken , for all thofe that impofed their hands on them, were Presbyters. Bat this dealing is not fair, to hold impofi¬ tion of hands a part of the foundation, that fo they may over¬ throw the Minirtery of the Church of England ; and then make it.buta complement, that they may ertabiiffi their©wn. Now this impoffibihty befalls a Church, either in the beginning ofit, and firrt conftitution, or may at other times by mortality of El¬ ders, and will be frequent, yea conftant in fmall Congregations, where there is but one or two preaching Elders, as is the cafe of moil, if not all Congregations. M, Norton a reverend Minifterin N. E. in hisanfvper to Apol ioniusjhathadefcription of a particular Church, much like this. Ecclefia particularism ejl ccetttsfide Hum vifibili vinculo mutui eonfen - fas politico unitus, ad incedendum in fide & obfervantia Evangelii 5 juxta ordinem feu politiam Evangelii. p.22. But I fee nothing in thedefcription but is applicable to the Church-Catholick. For dieyarethe company of believers, and they are politically united together, under Chrift a politicall head, and they are united to¬ gether by avifiblc boncpof voluntary content to yeeld outward lubjc&ion to the government of Ghrirt. See all thefe particulars yeeidedby M .Hoaxer, Survey, p 3. His own words I fhdl cite, Chap. 2. A’e£\:. i.-, And M. Norton himfelf s ReJp. p.50. ledgeth thus much, Qmnes Eccleji£ uniuntur politico jttb eodem ca m 2. I muntnr eadem forma Folitias & callus* 3, 'Vnivntur rela- tiom Jonrum poducarum^ & bac unions commwii fund at ur cmmanio Ezclefatum inter ju in a Congregational Church. .5 becaufe it is not rationally probable that the Churches « rz jalem, Rome, Corinth , Philippi , Ihejfalonica , or the [even € ' 5 * And ®f JeruJalem , Churches of sifia were meerly Congregation al } rather Preshyterial^ as hath been by the Reverend A'jfembly , the London Minifters, and divers others abundantly evidenced; it feemeth difficult to me to find intheNewTeftament&n exprcffe Indance or example of a Congrcgationall Churchy (landing and continuing foby it felf. The Church of Cenehrea mentioned Rom. 1 6. i. is rhe moft pro¬ bable, becaufe of the conceived fmalnefle of the piace,yet ic is not certain, for it was a port Town, eight mile* from Corinth , as Holyoke tells us,and Cualter in #o»M6.faith it was Oppidum Corin’- tbiorum navittm Jlatione cekberimrtm^ & ideo frequent valde & po~ pulofum. The cleared evidence is from I Cor. 14. 14. for a particu¬ lar Congregational! Church. Let your women keep Jilence in the Churches, which word ( Churches ) feems to import feverall Congregations meeting in feveral place* , to enjoy publick Or¬ dinances by the Corinthians ( your women') and thefe Congre¬ gations are called Churches, and yet were all one combi¬ ned^Church of Corinth , often fpoken of in the hngular num¬ ber. But this difpute belongs not to this queftion , yet the pre- fent difference of opinions and pra&ices, have caufed me a little to dilate upon this fubjeft, beyond the explication of the term - And I underftand by particular Churches, any, or a 11 the fore- mentioned Churches, whether National , Provincial, Pres- byterial, Claflical, or Congregational; and this laft priori- pally; for thofe that have firft moved this queftion, mean prin¬ cipally, ifnotfolely, the Congrcgationall Church, because ( as I fuppofe ) they hold no other particular Churches but filch The fourth term to be opened is j What is meant by Prima r Sett, 4^4 velSecundaria & Orta. This dift'm&ion, or at lead in thefe terms, is not ancient; for M. Parker in his Politeia EccleJ. was the firft that fprung it, as far as 1 know* - Primum in Logick is defined to be Quod eft jute Originis : Ortum , . quod oritur aprimo .. - RecundJrmm is properly that which is next after the firft in or- fosit is an ordinal, I do not mean ftri&ly, next i name- D 2 , ' dutely*, 24 What is meant by Chap. i. diately, but in the largeft fenfe, for that which hath not the firft right or firft confederation, but a Posterior. In this Queftion, Prinum^oifirft, is meant, that which hath the priority in con¬ fideration. Whether in our appreheniion of Churches wee are to begin at the Church-Catholick, and defcend to particular Churches, to begin at the particular, and afcend to the Church Catholick ? which notion is firft in diftinft knowledge, whe¬ ther Eeclefra Univerfalis 9 ant Parttcnlaris } Whether the na¬ ture, priviledges, and Ordinances, belong firft to the Church- Catholick ? and fecondarily to the particular Churches .* I do not mean ( as M. Elite fuppofeth ) that the power or Ordinan¬ ces go by way of difcention or derivation of power from the Church-Catholick, in difpenfation of Ordinances, but in con¬ fideration : for 1 acknowledge power to be given immediately to every particular Church therein, yet under regulation of a greater part of Church-Officers, in cafe of male-adminiftration. The properties and power of water is primarily given to the whole element of water, but is immediately, yet fecondarily in the particular parcels thereof. But the Catholick Church is the primary in a threefold re- fpeft# Firft, as the Orthodox Catholick Church is a means or inftrument by the Ordinances, Miniftery and members there¬ of, in the feverall parts and places thereof, to convert, add , and bring in more new members thereunto; and is continu¬ ally conquering out ofSatansand AntichriftsKingdom,and lea¬ vening the world with the do&rine of Chrift. Secondly, as the Church-Catholick affords matters and members, to make up or conftitute the particular Congregations, which confift onely of the members of theCatholick-Church,gathered up from any place of the world into particular vicinities. Thirdly,in regard the Ordinances and priviledges of the Church, are primarily intended and given by Chrift, by one Charter unto the whole Church, and to particular Churches fecondarily, as parts there¬ of. And fo they partake of the benefits and priviledges of the Church, not becaufe they are members of the particular Chur¬ ches, though there they have the immediate opportunity, but of the Church-Catholick. Asa Corporation already conftitu- ted by Charter, receiveth in free men continually* and giveth , freedom Prima, Secundaria, Orta . 2$ freedome to new members which come any way to have right thereto, and thofe members have right to the privileges of the City, not becauie they are of fuch a ftreet, or ward, or company, but becaufe they are free of the City. So that though I have retained the terms of M. P^wdiftin- ftion fprima and Orta five fecundaria> yet myqueftion differs much from his. For he compares the particular Churches who dele¬ gate and fend members or commifiioners to conftitute a Claffis or Synod, with fuch a minifterial Church, a Church of Officers fo conftituted, for fome efpeciall ends, pro tempore> which fome call a reprefentative Church : and I confdle with him that fiieh a Church may well put on the notion of Ecclefia Orta , and the particular Churches out of which thefe members are delegated, may in fome fenfe( in reference unto them) put on the notion oiEcckftaprima. Yet i do not conceive that thofe particular Churches give either the office, or the power in atta where¬ by thofe delegated Commiffioners do aft when they are met, but by fuch delegation they do evocate and call forth the exercife of that power which Chrift hath annexed to their office habitually, in attain fecmdwn , to aft pro hie & mne , for the good of all thofe Churches fo fending, which afts of theirs binde the delegating Churches to fubmiffion in the Lord. But in my Queftion the whole Church-Ga tholick vifible is compared with the particu¬ lar Churches, and they are considered as parts thereof. Chap. ii. Proofs by Scripture that there is a Church-Catholic^ vifible . N Ow 1 have opened the terms of my Queftion, I finde two Queftions inftead of one, and whether of them is the moft difficult I cannot tell. Whereas the fubjeft of every Queftion ufed to bee taken for granted, and the predicate onely to bee proved, 1 finde the fubjeft of my Queftion exceedingly quefti- cned Sett* 4. 9 ( 26 Th/it there is a Church Catholickjvifble . Chiip 2 orKC * ar ‘d oppofed, and that by (omeof our own Divine** and ■ ' therefore though my firft aim in undertaking the Queftion was to deare the Predicate, yet I muft crave leave to confirme the fubje&j orelfe whatfoever I (hall fay of the Predicate will be as a houfe built on the fard, or a Caftie in the air; for if there he no univerfal viftble Church , then it is mt capable of being either Prima or fecundaria* In handling both thefe Queftions , Ifhall follow my wont¬ ed method. I preferre one Divine Teftimony before ten argu¬ ments, and one good argument before ten humane teftimo- nits. Firft then 5 Whether there be & Cburcb-Catbolicl^ vifible ? Sett, jfc I know that our Divines in anfwer to the Pontificians, do de« ny the Church-Catholike to be vifible, as Zancby y Gerard } Whi¬ takers, Qhamiery and Ames againft B eUarmine, and S adeel again-ft 2 ftrrianus, and againtt the Motifs GonfeJJion of faith) and D. Willet in his Synopf. ' For they reftraining the fignification of the word C butch, to the better part ofthe Church, th eElett onely, and confidering them in refpe& of their internal communion with Chrift their head, and not their external communion one with another by Ordinances, did deny the Church-Catholick to be vifible. Nee a qttovts impio, nec pio videri potejl , faith Whitaker* And if the word Church be taken in that fenfe, it is moft certainly true, it muft needs be invifible, but there is alfo an external com¬ munion ( as hath been (hewed before ) which the vifible mem¬ bers have, both with Chrift and one with another, which is vi¬ fible, and makes the enjoyers thereof vifible one to another, and to all others alfo, viz,, their praying one with another and for another, and their hearing the Word , and receiving the Lord’s Supper together as occafion is offered, and their recei¬ ving all thofe as vifible members of the vifible myftical King¬ dom and body of Chrift, that are admitted in any part ©f the Church by baptifm, and the avoiding of fuch as are any where exc©mmunicated,and the receiving again into communion thofe that are anywhere abfolved. So that there is en external vi fible Kingdom of Chrift, as well as an internal and invUifeU^and the elc£fc are of the vifible King- 4 om Ibat there is a Church - Catholicl^yifihle. 37 dom as well as of the invifible 5 they are as Ezechiels wheels, a c « wheel in the midft ofa wheel. It is true which reverend M. Hooker puts me in minde of ? that thefe 4, Queftions between the Pontificians and our Di¬ vines : are diftinSfc. Vtrum Ecclefia fit vifibilis > Vtrum Ecclefia vifibilii potefi deficere > An fit fiemper frequent & gloriofa > Vtrum Ecclefia opus babet vifibili monarch(i & fummo Judice? But they are tather marlhalled fo by our Divines in their anfwers, then diftinguifhed by themfelves; for they often confound vifible, confpicuous, glorious, manifeft, fpecious , fpUndid, magnificat , and flourifhing together, yet the G hurch is vifible when latent under persecutions, and is deprived of the other properties, for ail the members even then are not invisible members of Chrift. Cameron granteth that thefe properties may betide the vifible Church, but notalwaies ( and fo fay feme of the Papifts alfo) and that when they do betide the Church, they rather (hew Quid fit Ecclefia, quam qua fit : that it cannot be difeerned which is the true Church by thefe accidents of perpetuall clarity, Cameron de Confpic . Eccl. The Pontificians notion of ^he Church-Catholick is very ab- furd, for they hold the nauie Church-Catholic ^ to belong to One Ghurch , viz. the Chutch of Rome : and that being the Church-Catholick , and comprizing the univerfality of the Church in it felf, ail that will be members of the Church- Catholick muft fubmit unto them, and be members of that° Of which Tfien, in Syntag . faith well, Orbem u\ hi inclu - dunt. And the neceffity which they make that this one vifible Church fh .uld be under one vifible univerfal head on earth % viz. the Pope, as Chrifts vicar general, is as abfurd : and therefore they are worthily confuted by our Divines. But to deny an external Kingdome or Church of Chrift upon earth : or to deny the vifibility or perceptibility of it: or the unity of it, or’the univerfality of it under the Gofpel ( is as 1 con¬ ceive ( as abfurd on the other fide. To the particulars I (ball fpeak more fully in following Chapters. I finde reverend M* Hooker in his Survey of Churcb-Difcipline, par. I* pag. 3. ac¬ knowledging Chrift a political head by his efpecfoll guidance in E means i8 That there is a C hutch-Catboli cpyifihle. C'hap* 2 *. C; means and difpenfations of his 0 .dinanccs,as wellasamyfti- a 'cdby fpiritual influence ; and the Church a politicall body as 4< well as a myftical. The political body or Church-vilible(laith (i he ) refults out of that relation, which is betwixt the profef- . u * E 2 3 ° » Scripture* proofs be tendted unto him by his Subje&s , and by the judgment. Chap, 2 . p 2aC e^ and fOurilhing cltace that he (lull beftow upon them. So Tftl. 86*9. Al\ Nations whom thou hafl made , foall come and wo'(kip before thee, 0 Lord, and fhall glorifle thy name. This is a prophecy like the former, So Ijd. 2. 2,3, 4. It fhall come topaffe in the latt dayer , #/^e mountain of the Lords faufe fhall be e~ flablifljed on the top of the mountains , and (ball be exalted above the bills , aH Nations (fjall flow unto it , and many people fhall go and fay, Come y:c , let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, i& the houfe oftkeGodof Jacob, and bee will teach us his wayes , ' 3 2 Scripture-proofs but little work in Jerufalem , for the Jewilh Chriftians did ge- Chap. 2. n erally cleave to the ceremonial Law, As the Elders told Paul A&.i. 2 ‘20.Thou feeft hotv many myriads of the Jewes do believ, and they are all zealous of the Law, and therefore he need¬ ed not perfecute them for negleft thereof, for they were zeal¬ ous therein, yea, the Apoftles themfelves obferve that in Jeru- falem a long time. But the perfection was fuch, as that they were all fcattered abroad except the Apoftles j and therefore it was for Chriftianifm that he perfccuted them. It was to caule them to blafpheme, as Paul himfelfe expounds it: now though reducing of them to the ceremonial Law had been an errour, yet it was not a blafphemy, for then the Apoftles them- feives fhould have lived in blaffhemy, Surely it was to caufe them to blafpheme the Lord Jefus thrift , and deny him to be the MeJJiab, It is moft likely that Sauls Gommiflion was according to the former decree of the chief Priefts, Job. 9. 22 that if any did confeffe that be was Cbrift , be fhould be put out of the Synagogue* And this appeares by what Ananias faith to Chrift concerning Paul • Aft. 9. 14. Here be bath authority from the chief Priefls to bind all that call on thy name. And verfe , 2» If be found any that way'. Not all of Jerufalem^ oriihe found any of Jerufalem that were fled thither, but any Jewes j for the Gentiles had not yet received the Gofpel* For Chap. 10. Peter was charged for eating with Cornelius and his companie, that were Gentiles. And they chat were fcattered abroad by Saul 9 preached the Go* jpcl to none but to the Jewes onely Aft* 11 • ] 9* And fome of thofc whom Srfa/perfecuted were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, Aft. ii. 20. But it was all that call on thy name , not all that had forfa* ken the ceremonial Law, for that verie few Jewes as yet had done, if any at all. And this was the reafon, as I conceive, that the commiftion given to by the chief Priefts, reached the jewes at Vamafcus , and other Cities, becaufe they were not fal¬ len off from the ceremonial Law, but kept fellowfhip with the jewifh Church at Jerufalem , and came up to the feafts ftill, and io wtre under their Ecclefiaftical jurifdiftion, and liable to their cenfure, and they could write to the rulers of thofe Syna¬ gogues to fee them punifhed. Alfoitis/aidupontheconverfFn of Saul, Aft 4 9, 31. 7 fen bad 33 * for a Church•Catbolickvifible vindicated. had the Churches rtjl in all Judea , and Galilee , and Samaria. Which yet were but Tome parts of the Churchy in the fingular number ) 3* which he perfecuted. Now if Saul had perfecuted onely the members ofth? Church of JerufaUm y whicn had forfaken Mofes law, then they might have had reft before , for all him, for they ftiould not have been within his commiflion: but he perfecuted them alfo. So our brethren themfelves expound it Except.p. 17. Alfoit is faid A#« 12-1. that Herod ftretched foch his hands to vex certain of the Church, and he killed James, and attached Veter. New this was a vifiSle Church, becaufe a Church liable tovifible perfecution; and an Organial Church, becaufe the pet- fecution was agaiart the Officers ; a»d the Catholick Church : for it is not laid, Certain of the Church of Jeruftlem, but indefi¬ nitely, The Church * and the two perfons named were not Offi - cers or members of the Church of Jtmfalem , but Officers of the whole Church, being. A poft!e% Alfo it is faid A& 2.47. God added to the Church daily fuch as Jhouldbe faved. Or, faved men, as fome render ir. Not that all (hculd be faved, or were faved men that were added unto it, for there were many hypocrites added, but thofe that fhould be faved , or were lan&'fied , were added. Which' Church was not a particular Congregationall Church , but th? Catholick. Reverend M. Hooker excepreth againft this, and faith, that * $ it was not the Catholick Church, but the Apoftolical Chri* w ftian Church now ere&ed , and not the whole company of « beleevers in the whole world , for fuch a company 15.P. 270. A nlno. It is true indeed , it was to the Apoftolical Ghriftrfcn Church, but not to any particular Congregationd Church. For fit^no man b/ convention is added unto, or made a member of a or the particular Church where he was converted, but is nude a member of the Catholick fociety of Chriftians by con- verfion, and then joins himfelf unto fome particular iccfcty of ' them. Seondly, This Apoftolicall Chriftian Church was not a Coni •> gregationali Church, for thofe iso ( fuppofe them the 12 and 4 ^ 43 Scripture-proof t 70 anifome othfiis ) were many of them men of Gaiilee> and hap. 2. re £ded at Jerufaktn but foe a time, per accidens , by command, until! they were further eudued with the holy Ghoft. And thofe 3000 that were added to them, Ads-2. 41. were men out of e- very nation under heaven, verf <5. and their particular countries, named, ver. 9, io 3 ii. And tfti»i$ our brethren*own exposition* in their exceptions to the proofs from the Church of JeruJalem , p. 16. Where they (ay u They were not fettled dwellers at Je-. rujalem , but ftrangers, commorants of the ten Tribes which ct were difperfed, a»d were but fojourners at Jernfalem , co« “ mingupto thefeaft , having their wives, and children, and , Ci families at home, to whom they ufed after a time to return. tC And that this continuing fteadfaftly in the Apoftles doftrine re cannot comprehend the whole company of believers “through the whole world, becaufe fame believers were of the 6£ JcxvsjSurv.c. 15 .p. 270 is true,I find Be&a in his large notes upon the place. Interpreting the Jews here fpoken of, to be the believing Jews, and the Gentiles to be the believing Gentile?^ Partibm fubjicit totum. But then he crofieth M. Hooker in making the Church an integrum^ and J«w& and Gentiles to be the integrant parts. Yst 2? - ' - tat Scripture- proofs^ &c* __ . -I. J .( _ -- J ,-f—it——«*■» ht- adds as the more probable meaning, A lift malirnusGfiud Juda- is & Graces , de extranets intelpgere , quorum etiam nobis fithabenda ratio^c. And all others that I,have met withal! interpret the words of the unbelieving Jews and Gendles in oppofidon to Chrifti- ans. Or eife of the believing Jews and Gentiles making one Church, but moft in the firit 1 'enfe, So Calvin y Judaot & Gen - tes nominate non tanttim quia dttobns tills generi bus cenflabat Dei Ec- clefta, fed tit doceat nos omnibus etiam altenis ejje debitor es y ut eos ft fieri pot eil Inertfact amw. So Ear sties on the verb Alfo Amb* Jhomas Aqu, Goran , and the Engltjh Annotations on the place. And the reafon diverfe of them render is 5 becaufe the unbelieving Jews ( abhorring Idols) might be beat off from Chrift by fee¬ ing Chriftians eating things faciificed to Idols: (which is the particular offence here mentioned by the Apoftle ) and the unbelieving Gentiles might be confirmed in theirldolatry there¬ by and the believers both of Jews and Gentiles take offence at it. u Again (faith M .Hooker ) that Church is here meant, whom ec a man may offend by his pra&ice in the particulars mention¬ ed : but he cannot offend the whole company of believers , u through the whole world .• becaufe a fcandal muft be fecn or. u known certainly, &c. Anfw. All indefinite negative precepts ( as againft murder^ adultery, theft, &c.) as they are generall for the time, bind- Ing jemper & adfemper y Co concerning place and perfons; though no one man is ever like to have opportunity or poflibility to commit them in every place and upon every perfon. So is this prohibition. Some might give offence in one place, fome in another, and Come one in many places, in thofe travelling times * and the whole was liable to offence, though haply not by one man, and therefore the obje&is fet down indefinitely to comprehend the whole. Yea, the word comprizeth not the Church Entittve y buc Orgamcal and combined, for they may fo be offended, and wee are not to affront or offend them: the greater the part of the whole body is, and the more com pleated,the greater refpeft is to be had to it, that we give no offence thereunto. Alfo for a Church Catholickyif ble vindicated. Alio Gal. 4. 2 6, But Jerufalem which is above Is free , which is the mother of us all. By jerufalem is meant a Church, becaufe 3 * is that which brings forth children to God, which fomtime may be defolate and in forro w, becaufe cf the paucity and difpsrfion of them, (bmeci-me is bidden to rejoice for the multitude and piofpeiity of them, as w/, 27, It is alfo an Evangelical Church freed from the ceremonies of the Law, becaufe it is called Jerufj- lem, anfwering to Jerufalem that was in Pauls time, and was in bondage wLh her children , vetf. 25.be. to the Church of the Jews that were under the ceremonial Law, and would not for- fafce it, which was foon after deftroyed. The Apoftle changeth the manner of this fpeech from the perfon of Sarah, who was the type of the Evangelical 1 Covenant, to Jerufalem, which \$ the Church wherein the Evangelical doftrine and Covenant is preached, and this Jerufalem is the feed of Sarah , i. e. the Evan¬ gelical Church is the feed and off-fpring of the Evangelical Co» venant. This Evangelical Church is called Jerufalem and Sion in Heb 12. 22. which text is parallel ro this: and Rev. 21.1, 2, the New Jerufalem , The legal-ceremonial fervice did beget ail under it to an external bondage, and brought them up under bondage; efpecially hypocrites which were not led by the Law to Chrift, but rather hindred from him, they were in external and internal bondage. It cannot be the Church Triumphant, for that is not the mother of the Church militant, that hath no Ordinances to beget children. And though it be called Jerufalem which is above, yet that is meant becaufe it hath its Original from heaven: as Revel. 21. the New Jerufalem is fa id' to come down from heaven ; and we are faid to be begotten from above* Secondly, becaufe their converfation is in heaven, Phili.p 5. 20. Thirdly, becaufe they (hall in the end be brought thither. It cannot be the invisible Church as To conlidered, bus muff be a vilible organical Church, becaufe it dothyio other- wife become a mother of children, but by the ufe of Ordimnccs and keys committed to her. ft is by the preaching of the- Word, that children are begotten in her womb* the feed is the Word; and by the fame Word as milk, and the ufe of the Sa¬ craments, they are nourifhed in their mothers houfe, andasa mother (he educates and rules them by difeipline. And this* F 2 cannos. - Scriptare-procfs^ &c cannot bea particular Church* but mult be thegenerall, becaufe the Ape-file lakhkis ih smother of us all", th«- Apoftle puts In. hirnfelf and all believers- And the 27 verfe makes it more plain, becaufe the ApoiUe confirms and explains himfelf by a quotation out of If at. 54 /. 2, 3. which fheweth the calling in of the Gentiles to bg of this Church* And thus all the proteftant Expolitours that 1 have met with, expound ir. Calvin on the place faith, Cceleflem vocat , non qua ccelo. fit iuclufa t non qua fit qa (trend a extra mundam j eft emm dijfafa Ecclefia per totum orbem, & in terraperegrinatar. Lather alio faith, This heaven¬ ly Jerufalem which is above, is the Church, t. e. the faithfuli di- fperfed throughout the whole world, which have one and the fame Gofpell, faith, Chrift, holy Ghoft, and Sacraments. --* It is the Church which is now in the world, and not the Trium¬ phant Church.’—- l o be the mother of us all,it is neceffary that this our mother fhould be on earth amor.g men,as alio her gene¬ ration is — Thisfpirituall Jerufalem which took her begin¬ ning in corporeal Jerufalem, hath not any certain place, but is difperfed throughout the whole world. T his free mother is the Church it felf, the fpoufe of Chrilf, of whom we are all gen- dred. So Mufcalm , Perkjns , Baldwin , and Ballinger , Lo¬ quitur de Ecclefia in terris ex omnibus gentibus collegia. It is ano¬ ther body which is correfpondent to Sarah^vtz,. the Chrifti- an Church. Bez,a and Calvin on Hebrews 12^22. a text paral¬ lel to this hath thefe words, Cceleflem Jerufalem intelligit, qua per totum mundum extruenda erat , quemadmodum Angelas apud Zachariamfuniculumejus ab Oriente ufque in Occtdentem ex¬ tends. Again, Eph. 3. 10. To the intent that unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places , might be known by the Church , the ■manifold wifedom of God. This Church was not a particular Congregation, neither was it the Church of the ele&, neither doth Bez,a fo expound it ( as is alledged ) for hee fpeaks here¬ upon of the government of it fab vanata Oeconomta : neither was it the Church of the Gentiles only ( which yet is more then one Congregation ) neither can the circumftances carry it fo beyond controul, as is alledged, becaufe of the myfteries here fpoken of, that were kfpt fecret fince the beginning of the worldly and 1 Cor. 12. 28. vindicated. 39 li and the multfarhuswifcdiw which wis nno office : fo roe being ma¬ ny are one body in Chrift T and every one members one of another Rom 12.4,5. M. Hooker hath two Expositions of, or anfwers to this place. Firft, that the Church here meant is totum univer- falc, cx'.fiing and determined in its aUings by the particu¬ lars. Anfwer. That cannot be ., for genus qua genus can have no officers, feeing it is a fccond notion abftra&ed only in the mind : therefore the Church qua totum univerfale is no exifting po- litje : if. it hath-Officers it muft be confidered as an integrum txiftens. And as for totumgenericum exfiens, it is nothing elfe (as 1 conceive ) but integrum fimilare,¥ or genus exifteth no. as genus, but onely under diftinft fpecificall forms, and is abftra- fted from the fpecies or individuals by the underftanding. Now that which hath no exigence oiits uwn,can have no ex¬ iting Officers, Ornne ccrporeum exfiens , vel efi integrum , vd mimbrum . Neither will it help the caufe at all to fay, that Apofiles. Pro- phots. Evangelijisi were extraordinary temporary officers. Firft, here are ordinary Officers inferted alfo, given to the fame Church, as leacbers,ruling 'Elders, Deacons. Secondly, a genus admits of no variations in regard of time or place, or any other accidents: nothing extraordinary can betide a genus, but an integrum ox exifting being., Genus, ,ut efi at erne, veritatis, fic efi At erne. i Cor. 12. 28. vindicated, Atcrna identiatis . Genus is abflraUumquid, non cone return^ but the Church-Catholick is concrctum quid !, & confiatum i & agre^atum^ 6 ^' cx membris , non ex fpeciebus • as (hall be [hewed more fully after¬ wards. His fecond Expofitkm is, that the Apoftle points at one parti¬ cular y but includeth all particulars , by a parity and proportion of reafon. Anfw. This cannot be; for this Church here meant is the po¬ litical body of Chrift, as M. Hooker himfelf expounds it, as ! ihewed before. Now all the membeis of a particular Church ( as fuppofeCorinth ) are but members of a part of that body^i 1 (hew¬ ed before. Secondly,God did not fet all thefe in every particular Church. Had every particular Congregation ApSles, Prophets , miracles , gifts of healing , diverfities of tongues > yea, take the conftam Of¬ ficer, the teacher, and ordinarily, one Congregation hath not teachers,but only one teacher : therefore this parity of reafon cannot hold,except all thefe Officers were in the plurall number in every Congregation. And if the Apoftles, Prophets, Evange- lifts, were Officers of every particular Congregation, qua parti¬ cular, then all thofc incongruities which our brethren bring a- gainft Presbyterial government; of choice, ordination, mainte¬ nance,honour, from the particular Congregations to them, and their eonftant teaching, watching over,and ruling of them, fall direftly upon thefe Officers. I fuppofe many Congregations ne¬ ver had all thefe kinds of Officers among them.lf it be meant di- ftribudvely, lorn to one, fom to another,then it fticuld have beta faid Churches , not Church. Tuis place being a main fort that flood in M. Ellis’s way, he laics his main battery againft it; and gives many anfwers there¬ unto, which yet are not fubordmate or fubjervient one to ano¬ ther, nor yet conftfient one with another : but if any one wil fervethe turn to batter it down, it matters not (it feems ) what become of the reft. He parallels this place with Ephef. 4. ver. 4, 5. And faith, that one body or Church here and there fpo- ken of, is meant in the fame fenfe that One faith, One Baptifm is, viz., one in kinde; and as there are many fingle faiths, hope* feapuims, though one in kinde, fo there is one body in kind, but ) 42 I Cor. 12. i8» vindicated. Chap. 2. I but many lingular bodies, vtnd. pig. 3 4. But M. Ellis might have feen, that if he had run his parallel a little further, he had run over fhoo’s and boots too. For there it is laid, that there is One Spirit , one Lo d Jefus , one God and Father, not in kind* but in number5 and why may not the Church, in which there is one individual dc&rinc of faith, and body of laws, and into which there is one manner of inrowlment by baptifm, and in which onely there is hope of falvation, be one numerically alfo;. efpeciaily confidering that as the head, the Lord Jefus Ghrift, is one in number: fo his body the Church can be but one in num¬ ber alfo; For Chrift hath not more bodies, in the lame refpeft then one. But even his granting of a myfticalonenefs in EJfenee, drives him to “grant willingly y that this doth imply an union vifible alfo , as “ much as may ft and with the inftitution of Chrift^and the edification st of the Churchypag. 34. And I think the Presbyterians delire no more. Alfo he faith, “The Church is one as the worfhip and govern- 51 ment is one y viz,,(or nature and kind, in the fubftantials of it,os’ cs that general platform of it, Mat. 18. &c. but as the Church is “■ not one vifible policy or corporation in number* fo neither in i€ outward government of it, vind. 35. Anftw. The Presbyterians do acknowledge many diftln^fe particular Corporations of particular Churches, exercifing go¬ vernment aftually and conftantly by their own Officers* But as thisonenefsinhindofworffiip and government* giveth every private Chriftian, whofe conftant attuall exercife of pablick worlhip is in one Congregation, an habituall right to worfhip God, and communicatein any (though never fo farre remote ) Congregation, if occalion ferve : and makes him liable to re¬ proofs and fufpenfion there : if there bee known caufe: why fhall not the Officers alfo whofe conftant aCtual exercife is bat in one Congregation,have the like priviledg to exercife their office in any remote Congregation upon an occalion, or call to it. But there were two Objections vind. pag. 3 5. which played fo Hard upon him, that they beat him from that battery, and therefore hphant,as well as Mi¬ litant ? Are all that are baptized into one Body,baptized into the TrU umphant as well as militant ? I think you will not fay fo. But how are we flown from a particular, vifible Congregational!. Church, co the Tjiumphant on a fudden, from one extream to another? Remember that of the Poet, Ne fidimiffior this , Unda gravet pennas y Jt celfor r ignisadnrat. Inter utrunique vola. Media tutijjimws ibis* It is clear th^Apoftle fpeaks of that body where*? in is fuffering,and rejoicingonewith another.But Abraham is ig¬ norant of us , and Jfrael acknowledgeth m not. It is contrary to reafon it felfy that the Officers reckoned up in i Corinth ♦ chap. 12 »ver. 28. and Ephef. chap. 4 .ver* j 1. ftiould be fet in the Church eflentially taken; for difcipline is not ef- fential to the Church, but for the bene ejfe or well-being of it* Confldering alfo that by thofe Officers the Church becometh po¬ litical. It were a paradox to fay that a King, Judges,Juftices 3 and Sheriffs andLaws, &c, are given, to % Kingdom eflentially, and not as it is a polity * for they are the very forntalis ratio , and fi- news of the polity thereof; without which it might indeed have an efftnee but no polity. Our brethren for Congregational! Churches hold that there may be a Church Entitive or eflentiall, befo re they choofc any Officer, elle they were in no capacity to chgofethem; how then can Officers agree to them eflentially? But it is contrary to fenfe to fay they are fet in the Church Trium¬ phant. But fearing that he cannot keep this battery, he retreats to a third , and that is a double one. In the generall he faith. Should J grant (which Ido not) that the Apoftleisto bee u undcrliood of the Church on earth, yet hee fpeaks as well of “ a particular Church as of the generall. And to avoid the dint ^ of this Fprt or Achileum (, as hee calls it ) viz*. 1 Corinth. 12. ** ver, 28. He brings in two flgnihcations oi the word Apoftle : Sc which word alone ( faith he ) is the ground of the Obje&ion. ^ And faith,if we take the word for fuch Officers as were fentout M with 1 I Cor* 12. 28 .vindicated. 4* *- “ With commiflionfrom any Church uponfpecial oceafion,which « is the literal fignification of the word,and is To taken ,1 Cor . 8 • « ver, 23 .of Barnabasy and Phil. 2.25 .of Epaphroditus ; fo the Argu¬ ment hence were voided. Anf, But there is not the lead probability that the Apoftle in fetting down the Officers of the Church,both extraordinary and ordinary ,fhould fet down occafionai meflengers fird,before Pro¬ phets and Teachers. And in Ephef 4. verf. 1 1. keeping the fame Order, fhould pre- ferre them before Prophets, Evangelifts, Paftors and Teachers. And leave out in both places the higheft Office in the Church, viz,, Apoftleffiip, efpecially confidering that the Apoftle there doth not fet down the Officers raptimy promifcuoufly, butad- deth an ordinall numerall with them y firfi ApollleSy feeondarily Prophets. But again, C4 If it betaken properly, in that he applieth “hisTpeedi particularly, though not exclufively, to the Corin- but t- •o 1 Cor, i2. 2 %. vindicated. facially to the houQjold of faith (i. e. as we have occafion and abi- s e Q lity ) which is as extenfive as the Church-Gatholick. Any for- reign Church may {land in need of our contribution and diftri- ftribution. And even the Law of our land enjoy neth, that if an v Congregation cannot maintain their poor, there ffiould be help by colledions from other neighbouring Congregations. And the maimed fouldiers of the whole County, are maintained by con- ftant colle&ion from every town in the County, and there are County Treafurers that receivelt,which aie (as it were) County* Deacons. And if a great Town be vlfited with the plague, or suffer Ioffes by fire, &c. It Is frequent tomakecolle&ionsfor them in many Counties. Yea, for whole Counties, as the whole Kingdome, hath lately done for Lancashire , yea for a whole Kingdome, as for our own Kingdom under war; yea for forreign Kingdoms* a* England \ yea, and the Netherlands ( though under another civil! regiment ) have done for Ireland. And we read what the Churches of Afia did for the Churches of Jemfalem. And we have had contribution to redeemed captivated Chriflians under the Turk^ and not onely of our one Nation, but other Na- tionSjfometimes Grecians . Now though thefe contributions and colle&ions run among us in another channel, viz. through the hands ofChurch-wardenS, Over-feers, Conftabler, Collectors* yet this is the proper work of the Deacons; and therefore that office in regard of the extent of their poffiblc objeft, may well be faidcobc habitually Catholick, or given to the Church Ca« tholick, though their conftant diftrubution fhould bt limited to their own Congregations. Another proof is from t Tim. 3.15. Thefe things I write unto tbee y that thou maijl know bow thou ought efi to behave thy felf Sett, in tbehoufe of God y 'which is the Church of the living God y the pillar and ground of the truth. This Church muft be the yffible Church where he and others muff exift, and converfe together, and carry themfelves in mutual! duties. Alfo it muil be an orgmi- call Church, for the Epiftle contained! directions about Bifhops and Deacons, yea, even in the contex'. Neither can the dire* ftions be folely concerning Epbefut; for they arewri tento Timothy an Evangelifl, the limits of whofe office are coinon:n- furabletothc Apoftlts, though under them. Neither do they H 2 concern More S capture -proofs for concern Ephefus in any efpeciali manner, but all Churches where ever Timothy (hould come* Therfore not coic particu¬ larly. For he prefcribeth canons concerning publick prakr* and the h bit and carriage of women in the Church : concerning the c Ihce of Bilhops and Deacon? t concerning the cenfuring and reproof ofall degrrees i the Ordination and maintenance of Elders : the choice and prcvifion for widdows ; concerning the duties of femnts : and a charge to rich men, not of Epfa- fus particularly or onely, btic every where. Neither did they concern Ephefus p;imarily , for the Officers were already fee in thatChuich 3 Paul found Eiders there Aff. 20. 17. in his vifitation of them, and had lived cheie three years, ver /«£?, ashimfelf acknowledged. Primarily therefore thefe canons concern the whole Church. The maimer alfoof the Apoftles fptcch is to 1)2 attended 3 he doth not fay the Churches , h'oufej . pillars? grounds? to be ordered parirationi 3 but in the lingular number houfc, church? pillar pound? r/A©- iApalapa, as if there were but one Church, one boufef whereof Ephefus was but om room? and that already furnifhed ) one feat? one large pillar, that hath the fame truth written on every fide of it, which holdeth sc forth unto others, both Jews and Gentiles, within the Church and without? more forenfi . And as Timothy being an Evangelitt converfed with many Churches, foit is like did the members of the Church o f Ephefus, 7 he Englifh Annotations ontbisplace are thefe. As the Cathohck Church is, as it tvere, hey (hould kill all the the world behdes thegodly, with a civiilfword i then thefe tares muft-be memb2r3 of the Church, elfe they were not capable to be caft out, if ne • yerin. Here werefiftier-men ( officers ) that caft this net: and fervants that invited thefe guefts, cveiy where in high-waies and hedges,14. 23. indefinitely, without ielp?&01 Country or Town. That which is olje&ed aga l nft this by M. Hafer is, ‘That 4t the Kingdom of Heaven befide other fignificatrons, as the King- 45 dome of glory, &c. it doth by a metonymy imply the word 4< of the Kingdome, and the difpfnfauon and adminiftration 5 H 3 -“of Sett, Mote Scripture-proofs for <4 of the Gofpell in the Churches, and the fpeciall thing* ap¬ pertaining thereunto. And citeth , thefe parables for that 44 ienfe. Anfwer. I deny not the feverali fignifications of thofe words the Kingdome of heaven , in feverall places. Bnt they cannot fig- nifie fo in the fore-cited places. For it is (aid, the Angells jhall gather out of his ( C hrifts ) Kingdom , all things that offend-, and them which do iniquity, and fba\lca(l them , &c. can this be meant ©fth efVorderGojpein Is there any thing that offends therein 9 or doth iniquity that fhall be call, &c. Hs there any tares, any chaffe, any rubbifh there > Or can it be meant of the difpenfatttn thereof > Should finfull or erroneous difpentions of Gods Ordi¬ nances be fuffered to the end of the world, for fear of plucking up good difpenfations ? Why do we then endeavour a reforma¬ tion ? Doth not Paul fay falfe teachers mouths mud be (lopped 9 and wifheth fuch cut off? It is clear the texts fpeak of a Kingdome confining of per- fon* , the tares, chaffe, rubbifh, foolifh virgins, and evill guefls, are the children of the wicked one , men that offend, and da iniqui¬ ty , that pall be gathered cut ofCkrtfts Kingdome , therefore they were in it. And the wheat, good fifh, wife virgins, and good guefls, are the children of the Kingdome , without rcfpe&toany particularities, of Town or Country, much lefle of any Congre¬ gation. And when we fay, "Thy Kingdome come, we pray not only for the converlion of the eleft, noronely for the coming of the Kingdom of glory, but alfo for theGhuich-Catholick vinble, that it might be enlarged , and have freedome and purity of Ordinances, which are things that concern it as avifible, organicall Kingdome becaufe the difpenfations therefore are by Officers. Again in i Corinth. 15. 24* it is faid, r lhenpall Chrifl deliver up the Kingdome to God his Father. This is not the naturail or ef- fential Kingdom , which he hath with the Father and holy Ghofl as God • for that he fhall never deliver up. Neither is it the Kindome of grace which he by his Spirit exercifeth in the hearts ofiheEleft, tor that fhall continue for ever, and be moreper- in heaven. For the Kingdome of grace]here, and of glory afterward a Church-Catbulickvifible vindicated* afterward, differ oneiy gradtt communionis , as Ames tele us ; here the degree isimperfeft, then ir (hall be perfect , both ii^ graces and joyes. But it is tbs Kingdom exe>cifed in the vifible Chttrcb-Catbolick^ , in the Ordinances of worfhip and difcipline , wherein our communion is mediate with God, which (hal thenceafe. For as the Evangelical excernai fervice and man¬ ner of communion with God, thruit out the legal! and cere* monial s (o (hall the heavenly immediate,thruit out the Evan¬ gelical. . Bui this Kingdom (faith M. Hooker ) cannot be the Catholick vifible Church , becaufe that confining of found-hearted Chriftians and falfe.hearted hypocrites , tfaefe are not delivered upinto the hand of the Father,that he might be all in all to them. Saw* p.276. Anfw- I do not conceive by Kingdom to be meant the chil¬ dren of the Kingdom, but the external donative regiment of Chrift over his vilible Church-Gatholich dilpenced by Ordinan¬ ces and Officers here below, which (hall then ceafe. And IC though the Ordinances ( as he alledgeth) are diftinft from Cc the Kingdom in fenfe and fignification* Yet they ftrongly ar¬ gue a Kingdom conftituted and governed by them: as the Kings laws argue a King and Kingdom. As from helps and govern- tmnts , 1 Cor. 12. 28. we gather the confcqaence of helpers and grvernoursy as officers in the Church : (o from the external laws of this Kingdom, we neceflarily conclude there is fuch a Kingdom commenfurable to the extent of thefeLaws, and that external, Organical and Cbatolic which is fpoken o flfa. 9. 6 » And the 25. s/er. makes it plainr, Jor be mufl reign until he bath put aUenemier under his feet; which reigning relates to profeffid Subje&s as well as profefled enemies ; and tbefe Subje&s com¬ prehend in a Kingdom. Again Heb* 12. 28* Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved , let tts have grace whereby we may ferve GOV ac¬ ceptably, With reverance and godly fear t This Kingdom cannot be meant of the internal Kingdom of grace- in the heart, for that was alfo exercifed by Chrift in his people hearts, under the ©Id Teftament, but it is meant of the external, unalterable, per- petual Ordinances of worfhip and government, which differ- Aloft Scripture-proofs for Chap. 2. edfrom thofe under the Law: elfe th‘e Apoftles antithefis of the Church under the Law, and thejChurch under the Gofpel, had not been good, which are the things he compares in that place. Externals under the Law are oppofed to externals un¬ der the Gofpel, It cannot be meant of the Kingdom of glory , for they had not yet received that. And it is plain he fpeaks of a Kingdom wherein We may now ferve God acceptably , with re¬ verence and godly fear. Now thefe Ordinances of worlhip and dicipline being Gatholick or univerfal, and relating to a king¬ dom, and therefore fet down under the name of a Kingdom? by a Metonymy oi the fubjett for the adjtmft , the Kingdom for the Ordinances of the Kingdom, do ftrongly argue the being of the Kingdom. Can we conceive that the holy Gboft would chule to ufe fuch a metonymy of the fubjett , where there is no fuch fubjett ? It is true (as is alledged ) the unalterableneffe lyetli in the adjunct Ordinances 3 i. e. in regard of God , who will not alter them : and that the iubje&or kingdom may be moved and (h ken by perfecutions or herefies, and fo may the Ordinances alfo, and have been wee know; but that kind of alteration, moving, or fhaking, is not meant in the text, nei¬ ther was intended by me. I have the rather mentioned this text, becaufe I find one of our brethren for Congregational Churches, viz* M. William Sedgwic]^ giving this expolition of it in a Sermon of his in print, which was preached before divers members of the Houfe of Commons* Sett. 3. Again 1 Cor. 5.1 1. The Apoftle faith, What have l to do to judge thofe that are without ? The prepofition or adverb I defirc to know what it doth relare unto , Is it not meant itupinfiotf, without the Chucc h had Paul nothing to do to'ccnforeany but invifible members ? Why did he then excommunicate hlymernus^ T hi let us ^ PbigeHw , Hermo- genes and Alexander'* And faith , I would they were cut off that trouble you. Alfoit mutt be meant of an Organical body, becaufe here ate cenfures mentioned as belonging to all within. a C hurch- Gatholickjjift hie vindicated. And therefore it mull be meant of the Church-Catholick vifible Organicah What have I to do ro judge thofe that ar e not brought into the Church ? They are not under my power or cognizance, but belong onely to the civil Magiftrate. And we ufually fpeak of the Countreys thatare within the Tale of theChurcby and thofe that are without* And we have an axiome, Extra Eccleftam non eft falus ; which cannot be meant of any particular Congregation in the world, but is true of the Church-Catholick vifible, typified by the Ar\e of Noah , without which ordinarily and vifibly there is no hope of falvati- on. Extra ejus premium non eft fperandapeccatorum remiffio. Calv. c« i' S, 4. Again, Eph. 4.4, 5 , The Apoftle proveth the Church to be but one by divers Arguments, Firft, faith he, T here is one body of Chrift, which is therefore called, Eph - 3. 6 - StWajwc c, both of Jews and Gentiles, t • e. the fame body. And this an Org nical body, becaufe F aul addeth, ver. 7. whereof I was made a Mini- fter* Secondly, there if but one Jpirit in that whole body, which Is as one foul in one body. Thirdly, there is but one hope cftbeir calling. Fourthly, there is but one Lord y or King over the whole Church, Fifthly, there is but onefaithfi.c. One religion, do- ftrine , worflbip, the fame Commands and Statutes for all. Sixthly, Ther? is but one Baptifm t to admit into this Church. Now if the whole world were under one King, and governed by one Law, and all one body, and all capable of the fame priviledges, and all made Deniians by the lame way of enrowK menr, it would make but one Empire; yet fo it is with all the Chriftians and Churches in the world ; they have the fame King, Law, Word, Sacraments of admiflion and nutrition, which they vifibly fubjeft themfclves unto and receive, therefore they are all one vifible Church. Upon this text, ver. 12. Beza in his large Annotations hath this note, and how could the 120. and 3000. converted by Peter have right of communion, and breaking bread together, before any Congregations were fee up or fettled? Therefore I conceive the primary right to com¬ munion is gained by beeingof the vifible body, not by b^emg of this or that Congregation *, By beeing within the general Ci ve- nant, not by any particular Covenant. And 1 conceive, that Baptifm and excommunication run parallel herein } for as b / Baptifm a man is admitted externally into the whole vifible body, and then may have fellowfhip with any part olthe bo¬ dy: foby Excommunication a man iscaft out frem commu¬ nion with the whole, and therefore may com tunicate with no part. This is Apollonius his affertion. Sicut per Excommttni - cjttionem legitimam excommunicatus non tantum ex hac vel ilia particulars Ecclefta ejicitu r , fed ubicunque ttrrarum ligatur, & ex commmione fratermi univtrjalis Eeclefu excluditur. Mat* 18; 17. 18, Jta & per Sacr amentum Baptifmi , & far* Each a - ] 3 ritfi*? H. Cbap,%. i. troofs by Arguments and Reafons riJU£ y bomini cotnmunia EcclejiafUca, non tanihm in particularly fed & itniverfali Ecclefa obfgnatur . Confid. quaruad. contro* c. 2. Art. 3. And though the power of Excommunication lyeth in the par¬ ticular Congregation, where a perfon enjoys his memberffiip under the Kingdome of Jefus Chrift, as M- Hooker faith, yet the Officers of that particular Church difpenfe that cenfure in refe¬ rence to the whole body, whereof hee that is fo cenfuted was a member, as well as of that Congregation, for beeing call out of that, let him bee or go where hee will, hee is under the King- dome of Satan, and all Churches ffiould look at himasaTrai- touragainft Ohrid, and fodeal with him as one uncapable of Church-Communion. Surv. c. 15. So on the contrary, though Baptifm bee adminiftred in a particular Congregation, yet a man to admitted in any Congre* gation, ought to bee Counted a fubjeft to Chrift, and not to be denied fellowffiip in any other Congregation, beeing a member of the vifible body, except hee fome way forfeit bis right. So that both admifsion into,and eje&ion out of the Church, though performed by Officers in a particular Congregation, yet relate firft to the whole body* Chap. III. Proofs by Arguments and Reafon, that there is a Church - Catholic 4 vifible. T He firft Aigument is from Gods donation unto Chrift, and itftandsthus. If the donation of a Kingdome by God the Father unto Jefus Chrift bse univerfal and Oecumenical, then his Kingdome (which is his Church) is alfo univerfal and Oeco- menical* But the donation was of an univerfal Oecumenical Kindome; Therefore there is fuch an univerfal Oecumenical Kingdome or Church. The major propofition isclearrfor whatfotver God the Fa* . ther gave or premifed unto Jefus Chrift,that he performed. The minor that there is a Cburch-Catholickgvifible 65 minor or aifumption is provtd out of divers places ot Scripture. ^ ^ ^ As Ffal 2. 8. Ask^ of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine in - u ' heritage, and the tttmott ports of the earth for thy pofjejfion. Which is fpoken of the donative Kingdome of Chrift given tohirnat his asking, and not the tffetmall or natural Kingdom as God, Ffal . 72.8* hie jhall have dominion from fea to lea, andfrom tbs river unto tbe ends of tbe earth. Where is mentioned the exter¬ nal! werffiip and offerings given unto him. The like promife wee find //tf.4 9.6. It is a light thing that thou fbouldeft raife up the 'tribes of Jacob , 1 will give thee for a light unto the Gentiles , that thou maifl be my fahationtt? the tnds of the earth, Ailo Daniel 7.14. jlnd there war given unto him (Chrift”) dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people nations and languages (Joould ftrvebim t his dominion is an everlafting dominion , and this King- dome that whichfhall not be defroied : Which is meant of the do¬ native Kingdom given to Chriftincarnate at his afeention, an- fwering to Ephe. 4. 8, where tbe officers of his Kingdom are fet down. And to Pi?//. 2.9, This is not onely the internal King* dom in the heart, for that he exercifed from the beginning, but alfo an external Kingdom, or Church-politic over all nations, after the mine of the four Monarchies^ which ffiould be txer- cifed ever thofc Kingdoms which formerly were fubjeft to thofe monarchies .'which Kingdom is that little ftone cue out ofthemountain without hands, which became a great moun¬ tain, and filled the whole earth, which the God of heaven ffiould fet up vifibly in the Head of thofe Monarchies. Van. 2. 44* not in a civill power of this world, but in fpirituall and divine Ordinances, which all Kingdoms that ffiould be converted to the Chriftiaa faith ffiould fubmic themfelves unto. And this one mountain filling the whole earth, rauft needs beoneGhurch- Catholick vifible, fubmitting vifibly to Chrift. 2, If Gods in¬ tention in fending Chrift, and the tenourof Gods donation, and exhibition of Chrift, and redemption by Chrift in his re¬ vealed will, be generall to the whole world , then the vifible Church is to be Gatholick. But the former is true, and therefore fa is the latter, I mean by general, Gentribus fngnlorum , nmfngu' Its generum, The donation of Chrift and redemption by him was not to the 66 I roofs by Arguments and Keafons the J,-ws only(as the Jews conceived > but to the whole world. Job. i. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which tafeth away the fins of the world. Joh.3*id* Godfo loved the world ( not the fews onely ) that he gave bis onely begotten fon , that whefcever beleeveth in him fhottld not peri(b but have everlafiing lifefi. e. that whofoever in any part of the world, of what nation loever, Ihould believe, ftiould have everlafting life. That the world through him might be faved 3 vc rfe.17. The Antithefis is not between the eleU and reprobate , chat who¬ foever of the deft beleeve, as the Arminians mak© ourfenfeof the words to run ridiculoufly ( though I confefie the eled: onely do truly beleeve ) but it is between the Jew and the ref of the world . So John. 4.4a. J0&.6.33.51. 2 Cor. 5.15?. 1 Job* 2. 2. a propitiation for the fins of the whole world* 1 John. 4. 14. The Saviour of the world. Now though many of the benefits purchafed by Ghrift for his ele& be fpiiituali and invisible, and obtained onely 6y thein- vifible company, yet Ghrift bimfelf and his death were vifible , his righteoufneffe vifibly performed, his a&iveand paftive obedi¬ ence were vifible, and multitude of benefits that the external Ca- tholick Church receive thereby are vifible. 3. If the Gofpel of the Kingdom, the feed and means of con¬ verting and bringing in ( not onely of the invifible company , but) the vifible Church, be Catholick, and uniycrfally preach¬ ed and received, then the Church fo converted and vifibly brought in, is Catholick alfo. But the Gofpel is a general gift, and is fcatteied like feed indefinitely in all the world, and work - eth a vifible converfion of the whole world, in Scipture phrafe* Therefore the Church is Catholick alfo. The major is clear of it felf* The minor is proved Mat. 24-14. this Gofpel of the King - dom jhall be preached in all the world , for a witnejfe unto all Nations , Mar.. 14 9. Wheresoever this Gofpel fhall be preached throughout the whole world , &c. Rom. 10.18* Col. 1,6. The Gofpell is come unto you. as it is to all the worlds and bringeth forth fruit. Alfo Tit. 2. 1 1. appeared unto all men. 5, If the Charter whereby the Church is conftitcttd , be- Cacholick, then the Church conftituted thereby ig one Catho¬ lick body: But the Charter confti luting the Church is Catholick* Therefore, &c. The that there is a Cbwch • Catholickyifible . 1 he major is dear of it felf, One Charter mattes one polity- The minor will appear by thofe places of Scripture wherein the 6 right ofall Nations indefinitely is fet down, Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Natisnj, baptizing them-, See, Maxh^ id. 15, John 3. id. Ephef. 3. 6 - 7 hat the Gentiles fhould he fellow ■ heirs and % v a trance , of the fame body , and part alters of his promifein Chrijl by the Gofpelf whereof 1 was made a Aiinifter . When the partition wall was broken down between Jew and Gentile ( and then the Church began to beCatholick ) what fecond limits did God fet unto his Church ? None, except men would (ever themfelves by re- je&ion of theGofipel, but external vocarion and (ubtnilfion gave right in foro Eccleji £ to be admitted members of the Church, and that was univerfall. If there be any particular Charter by which any particular Church was conftituted bdiJe the ge¬ neral, let that be produce^,! know none. For if there werr, then that particular vifible Church could never fail, or elfe a Gofptj Charter rauft be loft. But all particular Churches hold their pri- viledgcs by the general Covenant applyed to themfelves, as all the twelve Tribes did theirs by the Covenant made with -Abraham and his feed. And all the (everal promifes, which are as appendices to the Covenant, are made to the whole Church-Catholick, and commenfurable therewith, refpe&ively, without any refpe£t to any particular Congregation or mem- berftiip therein* Fifthly, if there be Officers of a Church-Catholick vifible,then there is a Church-Catholick vifible. But there are Officers of a Church-Gathblick vifible* Therefore, &c. The major cannot be denied. The minor appears by the donation of the Mini¬ fy to the Church- Catholick vifible, Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Eationfy baptizing them, &c. They are not circumcifed or limited to any one piece, but are fent into the whole world to all Na¬ tions, 1 Corinth - chap. 1 2. 28. God hath fet fome in the Church , firfi ■ApofUes, fecmdarily Prophet fy thirdly Teachers , Ephef. 4. 11. He gave fome Apoflles , and jome Prophets^and fome Evangelifts, and ft me Payors and Teachers-, for the perfecting of the Saints , far the of the Mini fiery , for the edifying of the body of Chrift . Thefetwolaft places M. Hooker himfdfconfdfeth to be meant of the external], political! body and Kingdom of Chrift. Now K tkefe Proofs by Arguments and Reafons tbefe extraordinary Officers, Prophets, Evangelilis, were Offi¬ cers of the Church-Catholick vilible; for they had no limits of place, but were overall the Churches, and yet are faid not to be let in the Churches, Lut in the Church. And this granted byfomiot our brethren for Congrega¬ tional Churches, that they wereCatholick Officers, and there¬ fore did not baptize in reference unto particular Congregati¬ ons. And this M. Cartwright alfo in hit Catechifn acknow led - geth. The Apoftles are ufually called KfCd onwpvixh univerfal Judges. M Hooker in anfwer to this Argument, Sntv. c. i5*pag. 272I Firft ,tniftakcs my words and meaning, for whereas I proved the univeifality cf their office from the unlimitednefs of it, hee conceives it of having no limits in their works, and fo fee down, but I meant no limits in regaid of places. And then hee faith the reafon of their unlimitednefs arofe from their com - mifsion, becaufe it was general, beeing immediately called by God to preach to all nations, and they had vertually all Church power in them, but this did not iffue nextly from the Church in which they were firftly fee. » Anfw, I confeffe it did arife from their commiflion which commiffion being general, made them general Officers, for what more can bee required to make a general Officer but a ge¬ neral commiisionMcdid not iffue nextly from the Church, I confeffe, neither doth the power of any particular Minifter, but his power is given him by Chrift, and not from the people,but is annexed unto his office, onely the exercife thereof is drawn forth by the people, pro hie & nunc , and fo the necefsity of the the whole Church drew forth their Apofiolical Office into execution, and the necefsity of a greater part of the Church may draw forth the exercife of any particular Minifters office beyond the limits of his Congregation occafionally. % 6 . If there bee a general, external vocation, wherewith all Chriflians are called, and a general external Covenant where* into all Chriftians voluntarily and externally enter, and are therein bound up in an unity, then there is a general external Catholick-Church. But there is fuch an external general vifible vocation, and external individual vifible general Covenant, &e Therefore that there is a C hurch-C atholickvifille- I mean b ygeneral 9 Catholick, Univerial, Oecurne- c r nrcal 3 in regard(notonly of kind,but) of places. dett ‘ 2t The major appears by evidence of reafon and experience ; for one Covenant with one Kingin any extent of compaffe, makes it one Kingdom. So, &c t The minor appears as evidently : For firft, there is but one ex¬ ternal general vocation divine, diftinft from all other particular vocations,not onely civil but Ecclefiaftical, which is ufually cal¬ led our general calling:and this is external, elfe none but invisi¬ ble believers were members of the vihble Church, which is that we fpeak of. And there is one individual! exprefie external! Covenant, not onely on Gods part. ABs chap. a. verfe 3 $>. The prowife is to you and to your children , and to as many as the Lord our God (hall call . Which is an externall Covenant and call relating to Bap- tifm, which they were invited to in the former verfe, yet not excluding the inward Covenantor call, but oft feparated from the inward, and yet the right to Baptifm remain in foro Eccle- fi£» But alfo iti islone externall vifible Covenant on mens part, which all Chriftians as Chriftians enter into, by their profef- ftd acceptance, and exprefle reftipulation, and promifed fubje- ction and obedience : though not altogether in one place or ac one time. n * n * c * a ^ v ^ble Teal, admittance and enrowlment, be Catholick and Oecumenical,then fois the Kingdom into which members are fo initiated : But the initiallfeal,admiffion and en¬ rowlment by Baptifm is Catholick. Therefore, The major is clear without controul,he that takes up his free¬ dom into a whole Corporation or Kingdom,isfree of the whole, and in every part thereof, and hath right to all the general privi- ledges and immunities thereof. The minor alfo appears, both by the patent for Baptifm, Go baptize all Nations , And by the confequences and priviledges .r[ e , 0 V^ hc y thatar€ba P ti2ed in an y Church are accounted viable fubje&s of Chrifts Kingdom in all places of the Chri- itian world, no new baptifm is required of them upon any re mo vail: and alfo by the tenor thereof, for they are not baptized into the particular Congregation, but into the whole K 2 vifible r 7 ° Froofs by Arguments and Re afons Chap* 3 vjfible body, and into the general! Covenant, not into any par¬ ticular Covenant. 8- Iftherc be an externall Cathok’ck union of fraternity be¬ tween all vifible ChriHians in the whole world, there is one ex¬ ternal vifible Calholick Church.But there is but one external Ca- tholick union of fraternity between all vifible Chiiftians in the whole world. Therefore,^. The confequence of the major appears, becaufe this fraternal union arifeth from rhe unity ot rhe Church, which is conftituted by one Covenant, into which they are all entred vifible. They are not made brethren by being in vifible bekevers only, or in the fame refpect, for then onely invifible believers were bre¬ thren, in the Scripture lenfe. If any one that is called a bro¬ ther , be a drunkard,railer, extortioner, &c m t Corwth. 5. n. Nowfewnue believers are fornicators, idolaters, drunkards; therefore th : s brotherhood is in regard of a vifible profusion and meniberfhip. The minor appears, becaufe where-ever the Apoftles came, if they found any vifible believers, they are faid to findc brethren. Ads 28* 14. And itis the moft ufiiall term, that the Chriftians were called by,both in the Ails of the Apsftles^ nd in the Epiflles; not becaufe they were of one particular Congregation, but be¬ caufe of the Church. Gatholick, which are alfo called the houG hold of faith. Dogond unto all ( i„ e. though heathens ^)bttt efpeci - ally to the houjhold of faith. Gal 6 - 10, The hmfiiold iscommenfu- rabie to the entertainment of the faith. Not the invifible mem¬ bers only, for they could not be known as fitch, but all the vifi- ble members. Ninthly, If the fame individual fyfteme or body ef extern*! laws, under one command,wherf by all Churches equally fhould walk and be governed, be Catho!ick,then the Church is Catho- lick. But there is the fame individual fyftemie or body of exter¬ nal laws under one command, whereby, &c. Therefore The major is proved by evidence of reafon, and experience of all bodies politick* The minor is undeniable. For the fame individual! fyfleme exprdled in the Gofpel totidem v rbis governs and guides the whole Gatholick Church, it cannu be faid the fame in kinde only that there is a Cbtirch-Catbdickvifibk only, but che Tame tor matter, manner,end, method^md express words: unlefs we can fay the feveral copies are feveral fpecies 3 and then we in England have fo many fpecies of laws as there be copies printed of our laws. Neither is it the law mitten in the heart , and put in the inward parts ; but the external fyffeme given to the Church as a body politick. Neither is it the moral law qua mo¬ ral, but that in the hand of a Mediatour, .wfh other p.fitive laws added thereto, > Neither is this fubjeftion unto thefe external laws arbitrary by the concurrent confent of divers Churches out of Cuftome, or because of the equity and conveniency of them , m materia^ as diverfe Kingdoms now ufe the civil laws, or for intercourfe with forreign Churches} but by virtue of the command of ths author of them. Neither have particular Churches any munici¬ pal laws divine of their own fuperadded to diftinguifh them, as England and Scotland have, but are wholly ruled by this Catho- lick fyfteme. Tenthly, if there be a Catholick external communion, inter* ccurfc 2 and communication between all the members, and in all the particular Churches in the world in worfhip, du&rine, and fign or feal of confirmation, nutrition, or commemoration of the fame redemption vifibly wrought by ihe fame vifible Savi¬ our} then all thofe members or Churches, having this exter¬ nal communion, intercourfe and commun'cation, are one Catholick Church : But there is fuch a communion, &c, There* fore, &c. The confequence appears, becaufe communion arjtfith from memberfhip ; there is an union prefumed, before there c,*n b:« a communion admitted, efpecially in the Lord’s Supper, wh-ch is a feal, and if an union, then a memberfhip, for thereby they are made of the body j and if the communion be vifible and ex¬ ternal, then fo is the union from whence it floweth, for qualh effc&us tails eji can fa. And though there may be an admittance of a heathen to be prefentat the Word fi ging ; praier,yet it isnoc an admittance into fellowfhip, for then we fhould have fpiritual fellowfhip with Idolaters 5 they may come and fee what fellow- fhip Chriftians enjoy with Chrill,and one with another,but they are not admitted into that fellowfhip while heathens and idola- K i i roofs by Arguments and Keafons ter?, but a iter converfion.profeffed fubje&ion and believing. Af¬ ter the three thoufand were coverted by Titer , and were baptized 3 they continued fiedfafily in the Apojiles dottrine and fellowfoip , and tn breaking of bread and praier y Afts chap, 2. verfe 41, 42. And yet were not of one particular Church, as cur brethren themfelves tell us, as I (hewed before, therefore as members in generall. And nothing is mere ufuail then for members of one Congregation to join in the feiiowlhipof the Word read and preached,in linging andpraier with members of diverfe Congregations together, as at Le&ures or other occafions , and frequently alio at the Lords Table, even among cur brethren in New-England, members of far diftant Congregations do communicate occafionally. Alio all the vifible Churches on earth pray publickly,<*nd give thanks, and on occaiion may faft for the welfare of the whole Church on earth. As for the evafion which fomeofour brethenhave, that this communion of ftrangers with them is by virtue of a parti¬ cular, prefent, tranfient membeifhip with them $ I conceive ic of no force, nor warranted in the Word of God* Thenfhould thofe men be members of two Churches at once, then ought they to contribute to that Minifter,then ought that Minifter to take the charge of them, t hen ( by fome of our brethrens pofi- tions) fhould the whole Congregation have a hand in their adrniffion. Alfo if there beany Ecclefiafticall admillions or cenfures, or tranfa&ions, or contributions that concern that particular Congregation, they alfo ought being members to have their vote and confent and hand therein. And then by the fame reafon all that came to aLefture which is aChurch- tellowfbip in divine Ordinances of linging, praier, preach¬ ing, and bkfling the people, muft fo many times turn mem¬ bers of that Congregation, where fuch a meeting is. And then is it a dangerous thing to hear a Le&ure in a Con¬ gregation where the Minifter or people are corrupt, for we thereby make our felves members of that Congregation, and fo put our felves under that Paftor and thofe Elders for the prefent, and thereby give our allowance of them, ft is not a fubitane, occalionall meeting, that can make a per- fon a m*mb?r of a Congregation , but conftancy, quoad in - tentionem that there is a Church-Cathclick^viftble 73 tentionem Jaltem,la\ih Ames in medulla, lib. I. cap. 32.Se&. 2i« ^ „ And for communion of Churches, I (hall fpeake of it afterward. ect ’ 3 * And by this that hath been faid,l fuppofe the minor is cleared aifo. 11. If the cenfure of excommunication of a perfon in one Congregation cuts him off from the Church-Catholick vifible in regard of communion, which formerly heehad right unto, then is there a Church-Catholick .vifible : But excommunication doth to,&c. Therefore, e^c. The confequence appears, becaufe the ejt&ion (being a cart¬ ing out of the body) cannot extend it felf beyond the body, but eje&ion is general, therefore fo is the body. The priva¬ tion cannot extend it felf beyond the habit:if therefore the extent of the depriving cenfure beCatholick, the habitual body is fo alfo. There is not onely a potentiality of right to communi¬ cate every where, while a man is a member, but an babituil right, not rifing from courtcfie, but from metnberfhip, not particular memberfhip, for then none could communicate but particular members, but from a general habitual memberftiip, to which the communion belongeth. .So fair as the expulfion or disfranchifement i each, lo farr the Corporation reacheth,and as the particular ward or ftreet (where fuch a man dwelt) loof- eth a particular member, fo the whole Corporation looietha member of the whole. So is it in this fpiritual Corporation of the Church-Catholick vifible. There is not onely an habitual fitnefs and capacity loft, but an habitual general right loft, du¬ ring the cenfure. The man is faid to lofe a member, when the hand lofeth a finger, therefore the finger was a member of the whole man, as well as of the hand in particular, So is this cafe of excommunication. 12, if there bee parts and members of the Church- C atholick vifible, then there is a whole Church-Catholick vifible: but there are parts and members, &c. Therefore, &c. The confequence is undeniable, for whole and parts arc re- lata. Tars eft qua continetur a toto , membmm ab integro. The minor is proved alfo, becaufe particular Congregations and particular Chriftian families and perfons are parts and mem¬ bers of the Church-Catholick vifible. Either they are parts and members, 74 , f: Troofs by Arguments and Reafons member?, or they are none, and fo out of the body, and with - out in the Apoftles fen re* It' no members, then no right to Or¬ dinances, for right arifcth from member/hip., mtmberlhip from qualifications. The fame relation that particular believing per¬ ilous bear to a Chriftian family 9 and which Chriftian families bear to a Congregation, ihe fame relation by proportion do particular Congregations bear to the whole Church-Gatholick, or any great pare thereof. But particular perfons are members of families, and particular families of Congregations, and therefore Congregations are members of the whole body of the Church* Catholick v.fiblc* The family confifteth of the perfons, the Congregation of the families, and the Church-Catholick vi¬ able, or any great part thereof, of the particular Congregations. A Genus cannot be (aid to confift of fpecies, but to give rifence to fpecies . Animal rationale ,or humanityjdoih not confift of particu¬ lar men, but exit! in particular men* But whether the Church- Catholick be a genus or an integrum ^or both,! {hall haadle in the nextChapter. I might urgealfo the ftveral metaphors whereby the Scripture fetteth out the u hole number of vifible believers under an unity. hi Revel, chap, 12. verfe 1. by a woman cloatbed with the Sun 3 ( the righteoufnefs of Chrift) and the Moon {all terrritrial things} under her feet: orcloathed with tile Sun, the purity of do&rine, and the Moon (as fome interpret it) difeipline under her feet: or as fome others expound it, Idolatry, whereof Diana the Moon was chief and moft general: or by Moon fome underhand the legal ceremonial fervlce w'hich was guided much by the Moon, under her feet, i. e, now abolifhed. So M,Mede. Now this was a vifible Church, becaufe it is faid to be feen, and is oppofed ei- thertoth* Jewilh Church that had thefe ceremonies formerly on her back,or to the Jew ilh Chriftian Church, which could net for a long time caft them off; but this Chriftian Church did. Surely it was not a particular Congregation that John law,nor is it meant of diverfe particular Congregations, for then it ftiould have been women , not a woman^ theerfore it w ? as the Church-Ca¬ tholick vifible bound up in an unity. AJfo John 20. 1 6. It is fet out by one fheep-fold. Other (beep I have which are not oj this fold\ them alfo 1 muji bring , and there that there is a Church . Catholic^ vifible. there fhall be one fold, and one Shepherd. Which is by ail interpre¬ ted of tile union ofjew and Gen tile, which are the two inte- SeEi - 4- grant parts of the Church-Catholick. And though by Iheep (hould be meant the ele&, yet they are confidered as vifible be¬ cause brought into a fold in this world, and fuch a fold as the thief may enter poffibly into, as it is in the former verfe? yea and the Wolfalfo, Aid. chap. 20. ver. 19. Bezanoicth. upon that place in John, that by fheepfold is not meant theflock it felf, but fomthing that holds them together, and makes them one dock. Cameranm on the place. E,(l Indicium Eccleft a fanUa Catholic* tn tote Orbe terrarum , &c. And Salma ft us, Vt una efi Eccle- fa, ita unut efi grex Chrifi, vel unum Ovile, Portiones ere- gts tilt us , funt greges ctvitatum particulares. Hinc ^rex & Ec- clefia idem funt , tam in generali, quam fpeciali not tone. Salmaf. aD- parat. 263. r Alfo it is called the body of Chrifi, Rom. chap. 12. ver. 5. w have many members in one body, and all members have not the fame office : [owe being many are one body in Chrifi, and every one members one of another. This was not meant of the particular theApoftle puts in himfelfinto this body, who had as then never come at Rome , therefore it is the Church- Catholick there fpoken of, whereof Paul was both a member, and a Minifter. And this body is a vifible body, becaufe it is Or- ganical, and organical becaufe the Apoftle thereupon reckons up the feveral offices in the Church, as teaching, exhorting,giving ruling, fherving mercy, which fome compute to be an txa&diftri- bution of Church-Offices. So called alfo 1 Cor. 10. 17. 1 Co\ chap. 12 .ver. 12*13 .Ephef , 4.4, Alfo the houfe of God, as I (hewed before, ll m. 3. *5. And a great houfe, z Him. 2. 20 which fets out the Churcn-Catholick. Now had thefe places been meant or particular Congregations, then they (hould have bem called bodtes, boitfes, [beep-folds. But as many membeis in a body hinder not the unity of the whole, and many Towns in a Kingdom and many houfes in a city , and many rooms in a houfe, 'or in the Ark, hinder not the unity thereof; fo many particular Con- gregations hinder nor the unity of the Church-Cathoiick. Efi unafola Chrifi i Ecclefia,qua ob id etiam dicitur Catholic a Particul 1- res tcclef a non funt impedimento quin una ft Eccle ftafLiwb de Fc- l ' Mj 75 >j6 Chap. 4. "that the Church-Catholic^ vifible My Dove i rr,y undefiled is but one , fie is the ovely one of her mo* /A?r,Cant. 6.9. She is the Lily among the thorns,Cdnt.2,2. which is the Chuich militant . She is called the Spoufe of ChriftfCan, 4. ver. 8, 9, 10. Again, Cant. 6 - 4. Thou art beautiful , O my love , as Ttrz^ah^omly as Jerufalemjerriblc as an army with banners . Thefe things are fpoken of the Church militant: and though fome th ngs here mentioned be fpoken in regard of the invifible com¬ pany onely,t/^ better part, yet to them as vifible, and as terrible by difcipline. And 2 7 hefi 2. 4. It is faid oi Antichrift, that he as God, fitteth in the temple of God, By Temple is meant theChurch ol God, and this a vifible Church, yet no particular Congrega¬ tion, but the general! Churcb-Gatholick,or at leaft the greateft part of it, for it is faid, Rev . 13.3. 411 the world wondred after the beafi. And Rev. 17.1. She is faid to fit upon many waters, which are as is expounded, ver. 15. Peoples, and multitudes, and Nations^ and tongues. And Rev. 18* 3. It is faid,that All Nations have drunks of the wine of herfornication,and the Kings of the earth have commit¬ ted fornication with her . Yea, the holy Ghoft choofeth to join many particular Chur-* ches together by Nouns collective. Nouns of multitude in the An¬ gular number. Remarkable is that 1 Pet. 5 .2. where writing to the ftrangers fcattered throughout Pont us, Galatia, Cappadocia, Afia, and Bithinia, he calls them all one flock, Feed the flocks of God which is among you. And from this place M- Bayns grantcth, that all the Churches of the world may be called Oecumenicall, Bayns Dioclef. rryal.p.i2.concIuf.i* And fo AEts 20. To the El¬ ders of Ephefus . The Churches of Galatia are compared to one lump , Gal. 5.5. Chap. iv. 2 hat the Church* Catholic!^ vifible is one Integrator totum Integrate. N Ow bccaufe 1 fee it is much (tumbled at, that 1 made the Church-Catholick to be Totum integrate, and becaufe it will 77 is an Integral. will let much light into the Queftion in hand,Hhall indeavour t® prove that the Church-Catholick vifible is an Integral, or to - turn integrate. And firft negatively, that it is not a Genus. Firft, a Genus is made or drawn per abfirattionem Logicam ( vel metaphy[team, asM. £//# conccivech :) but an Integral is made or conftitu- ted per conjunttionem five appofitionem phyficam, vel politicam. Now the Church-Catholick vifible is not made or drawn by lo¬ gical or metaphyfical abftradion, but by political con jundion, combination or apportion of the parts and members thereof. So Ames . medal. lib. i f cap. 33. Scd f 18. Stem per fidem Ecelefia habet fiatum effentialem , & per com binationem , inte- gralem , fie etiam per minifierium habet Ore am cum attendant Uatum. 7 Secondly, A(?e«/£f hathnoexiftenceof its own, but fo hath the Church-Catholick vifible, viz,. Per combinationem , five tggfzgAtionem . No genus can bee capable of combination or aggregation, for that is an accident belonging to an in¬ tegral!. Thirdly, it appears by the definition of a genus both ac¬ cording to the Ramifis and Arifiotelians. The Ramifis fay, Ge¬ nus eft tot urn partibus efientia/e. The genus is effential to its parts, i.e. fpecies* But Integrum efi totum cut partes funt ejfentia/es vel integrates. Now the feveralChurches are integrant to the Church- Gatholick vifible, they make and conftitute the Oecumenical by aggregation. And according to the Arifiotelians, Genus efi totum quod de pluribus fipecie differ tnti bus pot efi pradicari in quid. Now this cannot agree to the Church-Catholick or Oecumenical, tor the particular Churches do not differ fipecie , by any fpecitical forms, but onely by accidental and numerical differences. Unleffe you will fay that Individua funt fpecies t which as it is generally de- nyed, foitismoft unlikely in fimilar bodies of all others. And if the fingle Churches be Individua , then at t he nioft the Oec\t * menical can be but a fpecies, yea, {peeks infima. So Ames med. cap. 31. fed. 18. Ecclefiahac ( viz. Cath. ) efi myfiica rations unajion generice,fed quafi fpecies fpecialijfima,vd individuum,qnia nutlas habetfpeciesproprie dittos. And yet i acknowledge he 1*2 faith Sett. 1. 'that the Chur ch-Catholick^vifib le iaith, cap. 32. fett- 5. Ecclefa particulars refpettu communis illipu natura qua in omnibus Ecdefiis particulanbus reperttur,ejl fpecies Ecclefia in genere,fed refpetttt Ecclefa Catholics, qua habet raticnem integri , eft memlrv.m cx'aggregatione variorum membra •» rum fingulartum compoftum, at qua adeo refpetlu ioforum eft e turns integrum . A fimilar totum differs much from an univerfal , fimilarity of part*doth notarail hinder integrality, but univt-rlaiicy is of another nature, being ap abftraft fecond notion. Society or polity is a Genus, and is divided or rather diffingufiffied intoci- vill and Ecc left ajhc all : now indeed cry ill polity hath diltinft fpecies, viz* monarchical, arifiocratical, democrat! cal fund mixed : bat Ecclefafiicall polity hath none of Gods appointment. In- deedthereis Papall, Preladcall, and Presbyteriali, but the for¬ mer are humane, the laft ( as I conceive ) divine. I confcfie al¬ io this la If is in difpute whether it be combined or independent, but this diftin&ion our ignorance hath brought forth, there is but one by Gods inftitution. It is true alfo, that fome mem¬ bers are invifible,and fome vilible onely, but theinviiible have their external! communion in Ordinances qua viable; as they areunderFccIefiafticall polity they are all confidercdas vifible : but this diftinftion makes not two fpecies of Churches or po¬ lities, for as invilible members they have no officers, but as vilible. 1 acknowledge there may by the mindeof man, a communi¬ ty cf nature be abftra&ed from any fimilar bodies, and fo confe- quently from the fimilarity of Congregations, but whether chat be fufficient to make a genus, where there are no diftinft fpecifi- call dffierences under ir, I (hall leave to the Logicians to difpute it out. And to make this totum genencum exijlens , is beyond my apprehenfion, feeing genus being a fecond notion exifteth not, but m intelleCtu noftro : habet fundamentum in rebus , non exfientigm. For as it doth exift it is an Integral, and lofeth its abftraft nature, wherein the univerfality doth con fill. That which exifteth in the individual is not totum, but pars ejfenttalis individui. As it is abftra&ed by the minde, and relateth to the Genus, it is but fymbolum caufa materalis , as it is cxifting in the individual, it is ip fa caufa materials Indivu&m. And there¬ fore is an Integral . fore though it be laid that tot a natura Generis confervatur in una fpecie , and by this rule in una indtviduo , it mud be fundamentaider only, nonformaliter lor there is no fuch univerfality formally in fpecie , & multo minus m Individuo. As the nature of a flock is not reterved in one fhcep, or a corporation in one man,to ufe M. Hookers own words Surv. c t 15 p.26 j. One Church alio may be more pure then another, and larger then another, but thde acci¬ dents vary not tUcfpecies. But fecondly, I fhali prove the Oecumenical Church is an In¬ tegral. Firft, becaufeit hath an exigence ofirs own, which no Genus hath.And this exiftence appears becaufeit hath an external form and ftate which no Genus can have. This Ames confefleth, as 1 ffiewed before,yea,the Church-Catholickvilible had an exiftence before it wasdividedinto particular focieties,m the beginning of it,in the Apoftles days,as I Ihewedbefore,and chat not as Entitive only, but under the general Officers, with whom they did com¬ municate,in do&rine,fellow(hip,breaking of bread and praier. Secondly, becaufc the feveral and lingular Churches do con- ftitute and makeup theOecumenical,as members of it,now mem- brum & integrum(untreUta.k genus hath no members.The par¬ ticular Churches are integrant to the whole, and the whole re- fultsoutofthem. Hence Salmafim hath this paflage, Vniverfum Ecclefut, corpus inma]oramembra ^'w^w.Apparat.285.Every par¬ ticular Congregation contains part of the matter and part of the form of the whole,I mean with Ames in refpeft of the external ftate of it, But a hath no external ftate. Quod kabet partes extra partes efi Totum integrate Jed Ecclefia universal is vifibilis ha- bet partes extra partes 5 Ergo. The major is the very definition of totum integrate. The minor is clear, for the particular Churches aredifferent one from another & fitu & ordine,& fmguU futi pra- dita funt quantitate 3 & nonfe invicem permeant. They are not only diftinft in confideration, but in exiftence,and exift one belides a- notherasTowns in a Kingdom. Thirdly, nay, it appears further to be an Integral, becaufe it is made up not only of the particular Congregations, but of in - dividuall Chriftians, not onely fuch as are particular members of particular Congregations, but fueh as are not members of L 3 any Sell 8o That the Church - C at holiday ifi b le Chap* 4 * any particular Congregation, as I fuppofe all Chriftian* are not fixed members, nor can be,as I could give diverle inftances, as in regard of habitation, peregrination, banifhment,want of op¬ portunity, fcrupulofity. If fuch be not member* of the Church- Catholick becaufe not fixed, then the Apoftlcs themfelves and Evargelifts were none, for they were not fixed: but we find that they were not only members, but Officers, and fo related to the body asorganicall. A Corporation or City confifiethnot only offtreets,wards,and companies, but ofperfons within their li¬ berties though dwelling alone. Now if the Church-Catholick be a genus , it cannot be abftra&cd from them both, if it be ab- ftra&ed from particular Congregations, and fo be a genus of fo- cieties and polities, then it doth not contain fuch as arc not in any focieties or polities: if it be abftrafted from them as parti¬ cular unfixed members,then it is no genus of particular Churches for they are none, nor of any. But as the Church is an integrum it may be made up of both, and refult out of both. Fourthly,that which hath inherent accidents and adjun&s exifting in it, as its own, that is an integral, for a genus is not ca¬ pable ofthem:But theChurch-Catholick vifible hath accidents inhering, adhering, and betiding unto it and exifting in it. Therefore it is an Integral. The major is undeniable. The minor 'appeareth by inftance. Beauty, ftrengtb,offenfive, defenfive, purity, terriblenefle with banners ( viz, ofdifcipline) confpicuity, order,vifibility, dv.are accidents that may and fometimes have been, and fome of them are ftill exiting in the whole Church,as belonging to the whole: therefore it is an Integral. Again, that which is capable of being majtes and minus , e. is fometimes greater and fonnimesleffe in extent, that is an Integral, but fo is the Church-Catholick or Oecumenical. T he confequcnce is clear, becaufe a Gems can neither be greater orleffethen it ever was. Animal was as great a Genus when there were bur tw o men, and a few beafts in the w orld, as it is now there are many millions .* for the greatnefTe of th e genus is net meafured by continuous or difereet quantity 5 but the nearer Ens it is, and the further from Individuals, the great¬ er th * Genus is, i. e. the more comprehenfive; and the further remote ts an Integral. remote from Ens, and the nearer the Individuals, the Jcife the Ge- nus is,;, e. thelefie comprehenfive. But the Oecumenical Church Se is meafured by quantity continuous in regard of place wheiein it is,and diferett in regard of number of the Churches and mem¬ bers thereof: fometimes the bounds thereof are inlarged and fometimes Oreightned. There is an augmentation by addition of members,a diminution by fubftraftion, and the whole reful- teth out of the aggregation of the parts, not by local conti- guity always, but by political , Ecclefiaftical, habitual con- lociation and union in the fame external profeffi , n , fubieftion, and fraternity. * Again,that totum which is mutable and fiuxile, I* an Integral, fora Genus is immutable, conftant, permanent, aterna ventatu] But the Church Oecumenical is very mutable and fiuxile, fom- time flourifhing, fomtime under perfecution : fomtimes con- fpicuous, fometimes it may-be latent; fometimes more pure, fometimes more corrupt: fometimes it hath more beauty and ftrength, and fometimes lelfe: and though this be in the parts and members, the particular Churches , yet it may be in the whole, and the beauty and ftrength of the parts of a natural or civil body is the beauty and ftrength of the u hole man, City, Kingdom; every member hath its own beauty and ftrength, and out of them all refulteththe beauty and ftrentgth of the whole. Again, that ntum which is meafured by time and place, is an Integral: for Genus which is a notion is capable of neither of them $ but (o is the Church Oecumenical: Hence we divide the Church into primitive and fuccelfive. From the time of John the Baptifl the Kingdom of Heaven fuffers violence, M t. 1112. Somtime the Chureh hath been planted in the Eaftern parts of the world, and now is more Wefterly, and is in likelihood ft.ll going more Weftward. We ufe tolimit theChurch wi;hi n the pale thereof, though potentially,in regard of permiftion.and (haply) promife, it may be a&ually over the whole earth, ^mplitudo & vetufias funt accidentia Eccleft* vifbilis. See Cameron de confpic . Ecclefut. Jr Fifthly, that 7 otum whereinto there is admtjfion y wherein there is nutrition and edification , and out of which there is ejeHtjn i that 7 leat the Church- Catholicityijible isanlntegrall: But there is admiflion into the Church-Catho- lick viiibie by BAptifin, nutrition and edification by the other external Ordinances, and ejeftion out of it by excommunicati¬ on .* Therefore it is an Integral. For a Genw is capable of none of thefe. Indeed it you conlider this fociety in reference to o- therfocieties or religions, it is a diftinft kinde, in regard of the Authour, laws,qualifications of members: but in reference unto its members it is an Integral; If this be all that is meant by totumgeneticnm exftens , it may pafle without any dammage to this queftion. So the feverall companies in London are diftinft from other companies, yet in reference to their own members they are Integrals, and in reference to the whole they are parts- Sixthly, that fociety which hath not only a head or govern- our in heaven, of the fame nature as man: but Officers on earth, which are indefinitely and habitualjy Officers to the whole, that is an Integral: but fo hath the Oecumenical Church, therefore it is an Iritegrall. A Genus is not capable of Officers: But the Church-Catholick had once ( by M. Ellis’s own confeffion ) a- ftual ,univerfal Officers, and was then one governed body: and ftill the Officers are indefinitely and habitually Officers to the whole,as fhal,l be proved in chap.y. And the vifibility of the head in c.^\S. 6 . Seventhly,that which hath actions and operations of its own, that is an Integral, for a Genus is net capable thereof, but the Church-Catholick or Oecumenicall hath or may have aftions, operations and effefts of its own. Therefore, &c f 1 he minor,upon which all the weight of this argument lyeth, is proved thus. The.Church-Cathof ick vifible may by their de¬ legates meet in a generall Council, about the affairs that con¬ cern the whole, and though their power therein were bur only conlulcative and fuafive ( as M. Ellis grants) yet it is an aft of the whole, and the afts of a Kingdom reprefented in Parlament arefaid to benationall afts; but 1 conceive they may do more, even make decrees, as well as the Sy nod, Aft. 15. They may conk/te and fuppreffe generall herdies and diforders. Yea, and the whole Church-Catholick may yield confent, fubmillion, and obedience thereunto, as their afts, finding them agreeable to « aft Integral, to the Word of God. There may be a general] humiliation of the wboIeChurcb-Catholick vilible,ora generall thankfgivine s ‘ a ‘ as occafion may be offered. There may be a generall contefta- tion with the fame hereticks, and renouncing of their errours. a general! fullering under, and conflift with , and conqueft over the fame adverfaries, as fuppole Antichrift, and Triumphing o- verthem. See Revel. 19. the [even firfi verfes, All Gods fervants both great and fmall arc called to it. I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude^ and as the voice of many waters , and as the voice of mighty thundrwgsjapng, Melujah. This was not the a ft of a particular Congregation, but of the Church-Catholick,and yet all thefe are verfS, bound up in an unity, and they are cal¬ led th t Lambs wife 9 and unto her was granted, &c. The Church- a r t vl ”k' e a ^° conquereth and fubdueth fpiritually the reftof the world, and bringcth them into externall fubjeftion toChnlr, and leaveneth them with the doftrine of Chrift, and uniteth them to themfelves in this fpiritua/1 fociety, fo that they become SWowx, one body. And though this be done by par¬ ticular members and Churches, yet that hinders it not from be¬ ing the aft of the whole, as when an army of fouldters of one Kingdom conquer neighbour Kingdoms,and add them to their own C as the Romans did all the world) it is accounted the aftion of the whole nation, or a national! aft; fo is this cafe though the conqueft differ in kinde, And this may fervefor an anfwer toM. Hookers Qaery,Surv.chaf.i6.pag. 2^6. 2^9. cc Whether * the Church-Catholick can be confidered as diftinft from the * particular Churches ( not by reparation of the whole from ) i n apprehenfion, by prefenting fome diftinft * Offi cer , °r 2ft, operation, which do not pertain to the parti- ^ •^L^ UrC ^ eS * ^° r as t ^ lcre i* a ^ ea< ^ and King of the whole, a* vifible,and one fyfteme of laws, and habitual), indefinite Officers of the whole, fo you lec there are afts and operations of the whole, both by their delegates, and by themfclvea, which though they be performed by particular perfonc btloaging(ha- P‘y) to particular Churches ( as the fouldiers making up an army belong to feveral Towns) yet do not perform them as particular members of the particular Churches, but of the whole, neither do they convert into the particular Churches, M but ,%4 Chap. 4. ‘that the Church-Catholick^ vifible but into the whole: as iuch fouldiers fight not as members of fuch a Town,but of fuch a Kingdom,and conquer not to inlarge their feveral Towns, but the Kingdom in general. And for con- ftant aftuall Officers, and diftinft fervices, fuch as the National Church of the Jews had, btcaufe they could meet together three times every year, and oftner upon occafion, they cannot be ex¬ pected in the Oecumenical body, it being too large for fuch con- ftant meetings. I f the Church-Catholick can bring forth fons,thenit can per¬ form operations : But it can bring forth fons* This M. 'Ellis him* felf confefleth by confequence,for in the clofe of his Epiftle De¬ dicatory before his vindfeia Catholic yea, , one and the fame body, which hath one head or governour, which hath conftant influence in¬ to that body : even into thofe that are onely vifible members in common works,and into theinvifible members infaving works and governs both by external laws. Now a Genm ^though it ha £ £ fubordinate fpecies , yet is no body,, nor hath any head or g 0 _ vernour, nor any influence given unto it, neither is it gover n . cd by any external laws, for then Uipultcxift* Yea, the Church. Catholi e k is an Integral . Catholick vifible is called a body fitly joined together andeom- fatted, by that which every jotntfupplyethy Ephef chap. 4. ver. 16. Se %' which appears to be the cxternall politicall Kingdom of Chrift, as M. Hooker cal/s it, and applyeth this Chapter, becaufe here are the Officers reckoned up, yea, the extraordinary generall Officer*. Vbi omnes partes exifiunt fimul compatfa, ibt totum integrate exi/lit-, Sed omnes partes Ecclepa Catholic a vifibilis exifiunt fimul compatta , Ergo totum integrate tot ins Eccleft a C atholic a vifibtlis exifiit. This M« Hooker faith is true of a Totum genericum exifieus 3 but not that all particular Congrega¬ tions do exift aggregated together, as members of the Catho¬ lick,268. But how a Genus can be a body, and the particu¬ lar fpecies fitly joined together and compatted 3 by that whtch every joint [apply eth y I cannot underftand. The relation between a ge- nns and fpecies cannot be compared to joints comparing and joining a body together,but moft properly relateth to the union Ofan Integrum. Alfo it is called a Kingdom, as I (hewed before. The Kingdom of his dear Son 3 Golof. 1. 13. The Gofpell is called the Gofpell ofthe Kingdom t Mat. 4. 23. And the word of the Kingdom^ Mat, 13. ip. And fuch as are onely vifible members are called the chil¬ dren of the Kingdom , Mat. 8.12. And this Kingdom hath a King and Laws and Officers in it; now a Kingdom orfociety is no Genufy but an Integral . It is alfo called a Tabernacle, Rev. 21, vcr. 2. which was a thing coupled together with tenons, foe- kets,loops, and niche?, and fo an Integral, no Genus 9 nor could l^nifie any. It is called alfo an houfe or building , 1 Tim. 3*15. The Church which is the houfe of God, 1 Cor. 3.9. Yee are Gods building, Ephef 2 , 21. In whom all the building fitly framed tore- ther 9 Stc. which is the Catholick Church vifible confiding of Jews and Gentiles, bull ton the vifible foundation of the Apoflles and Prophet ty Jefus Chrifl being the chief corner -Jlone. And a houf- hold. Gal. 6 . 10. Alio it is called a Temple in the fore*cited Eph % 2. 21. 1 Cor , 3 * 17 * 2 C° r * 6.16. Now the Temple was an Integral. Alfo it is called a City, and the members thereof Jews and Gentiles are called fellow-citizensy Ephef. 2. 1 p. Alfo an army terrible with bannerty Cant. 6. io.Alfo it is called a fheep-foldy a wheat-field.^ns M 2 , barn- "that the Church-Catholkk^vifible barn-floor y a dr tig-net, a loaf of bread made uf of divtrfe grains,\ Cor . : 4 - 10.17. Now all theie,and many more appellation* have no ana-, logy to a Genus flout to hercforc the Church-Catho- lick vi/ible is an Integrum. Ninthly, 1 1 appears t© be an Integral from the words which the Scr ipture ufeth to exp refs the Church and union of the mem* bers of the Church-Gatholick together. As -Aft, 2. 41. There were added abm 3000- fouls wpoo-ijifa\t milk a* there are drops of mi.k, tor it may be fa?d of every drop of water, wine, or miik, they are water, wine, or milk. Can the variation onely of fituation, or accidents vary the fpecies? * hi.« man is a man,there l rgims and fpecies *.T his man is an Englrfh man, there fhouM be . nother lubaltcrnall fpectes. 3- Thb EngMh is a 5«^/^rt»an, there (hould be another interi- our fpectes. 4. This Sstffoll^m^n is of fuch a pa ticeJar hundred, there (hould be mother infeiiour fpecies . 5. This man is ot fetch a Town in that hundred, as fuppole Ipfwrch, there is another inferiouT fpectes. 6 . This Jpfoich man is of fuch a Pariif, there is another fpecies. 7. This mam of fuch a Patilh is of fuch a ftreec in the Panlh, there is another infe/iour fpecies. g. This mm is of uch a Family in fuch a ftrect, there is another inferiour jpe- cicsi The like defeen ion may be made of particular Churches. By this reafon man will pr ve a very large Germs, chat hath fo many fubaltcrnal fpecies under him, land many more may bee made by the fame reafon- Tea, the lame ma-n will vary his fpecies as oft as he vaiitth h^s place, I-'-conceive this propo- N ficton Sc# 4. That the Chureh-Caih, Itck/uiftble 4 > lit ion Hdc aqua eft uqua, will at celt be i u fpeoes inftm < & wdt- vidmtn: and the iiKc of hie homo eft h mo: but the predication of this man by thelevcrail paiticuLr uiviriviis and lubciivifi. n$ of the Kingdom will prove de\ omn^tio ad umGa^erfona a jube * ef^:and tiiisdivition of a Kingdom int ,im>.e pa ucular pans, will >athtr prove adivilion o [mtegri in membra dun generis m (pedes. Hut 'uppofe thisfhould be granted (which Logicians will not) yet it ouftalfob grant*d,ihi. as there may be luch hcond no¬ tions of thisman y or this Church, laifd by logical abftrutlion, fo th re muh nt'ds be an ini- grainy refu ting outot phyftc.il conii- guiiy ? or political conjunftron and aggr egaiionot places,perfons and C'?Uj ches. But kt it be fuppoftd that by log’cal abftraftion we may draw a nc tionofa^ewr from ch^fimii arity of ail Churebes, or com¬ munity ot nature in all Chu'ches , though the Lhu ches differ not from each other by any e{ftntiall,d iierent,fptcificall forms, but onely accidentally, as individuals : yet alio it -mullb. grant> ed that by the unity ot the Covenant and Charter wherein they are all hound upin an uciiy^> dby political c nibinat^on which necdlarily lolloweth thereupon* we may raile an integrality, for they areal] members of the Church* militant, of Ch ills ex¬ ternal Kingdom on earth, and fo they become really and necef- farily members of apolitical integrum. And on this Inttgral were the privileges of the Church bellowed p.itnarily, and on par¬ ticular vifible Churches but f condarily,is members of the whole bod/ . 1 etirbe granted that thefe priviledges are beftoWrd by God upon fuch a fort of men, fo ard fo qualified (viz, viiible bdievers ) and from their fimilarity.of di politico, may bee drawn a community of nature or dilpofition, yer the priv*- ledgcsofthe Church do not accrue unto them, bccaufe fo and fo qualified but by virtue of that one external, individual Co¬ venant of God, nude unto fuch qualified perfons, by which ex¬ ternal Covenant they are made externally one habitual, exter¬ nal, viiible body. And if the fame company of men fo qua’ified canrmkea Genus by abftraftion (.though there be no fpecificail diiiinft fnbaltemal forms) and yet be an Integral becaufe of. the ex er- is an Integral » naiviiible Covenant under one head, into which dtic> are ad n entrcd, which s the fountain of all their priviledges, I fh,all° a * yield iheCurch-Caiholick viiibleto be a uww,ai wellasan Integrant: and call it with slntes^ Umverfahter Integrals • Buc it (tich an ufe can be made of that logical tenet, that Individu¬ als are fpecies^ which yet nioft Logicians do deny) that thofe individuals cannot be political members of one greater body, l fear t will p. ove more prejudicial to policy, then beneficial to Logick. Again, that which M Ho ker makes peculiar to an Integral, from that which wee iltotum ttniverfale is, that rvhat belongs tothisydoth not belong to a llits members , 5 ur. c. 15. p.25 6, Is true onely of Integrum dtjjhmlare , for it is not true o\Integrum jimi - lare. for aaa whole, piuceot water doth moi/hn and coo 1 , io doth every drop in its rueafure and proportion. And fo it is pe¬ culiar only toadiilimu'ar Integral. 1 (hall n< >tealfo two things in that Chapter wherein M. Hoo- ^$° h er miftaketh m/ meaning. Firft, in the feventh proportion which hex 11 fts ontolmv Thefts letdown, p. 2^2 Every pa"*, ttcular Church par taketh ofptrt of the mitter^ and part of the form of the whole, which p 2<5 i. he makes ule of again, and rende.s it thus, Ecclepa Catholicagives part ofthe matter and part of the form to all particular Churches. Buc my meaning Was, it doth conlift of part of the matter, and part ofthe form of the whole: as a room in an houfe confifteth ofj and fo ( in that fenle ) may befaidto partake of part of the matter, and part of the form of the whole, not as a fpectes , but as a member of the home. Afecondmiftakeofmy meaning is, that he conceived I ac¬ counted f he Jewifh Chu ch theCathorick Church, becaufe 1 de¬ fined the Chur ch • Catholick to b^ the whole company of believers in the whole world . p. 263. A n d thereupon undertakes to prove tKa the Church was in pop# 'o Ifraelitico^ and not in populo Ca- tholico . But this never came into my h ugnts; but I acknow¬ ledge the Jews to be a national Chuich. Bm my defeription of me Church-Catholick was of the Church as it is now, finre the partition wall is broken down, for then ic bfccame Catho¬ lick, I conceive there were believers of the Tons of Ketur*b y N 2 that y l ‘Ihat the Church Catholick L vifiblc „, that did not partake or ail me privii .dges ot the Jewifh Chu> eh, ' except they became profelytes. It is the Evangelical Ca holick Church which my Queftion isabouidnco which the Jeas them- felvs being converted,were admitted by a ntw initial leal, viz, % Baptifm, and did not ftand in it by their formei national mem¬ ber fhip, but received a Catholick memberlhip by baptit'm. And hereupon he undertakes to make out my method or c< * veyanceofthe right of Church-priviledges to erode Gods n * thod. He lets down my method thus. Firft, when a man is c - verted to the profefilon of the Gofpel, andfobecomsa vifibie l «=■>• liever, he is then a member ot the Cnurch-Catholick. Secondly , He hath by this profeflion and men berhiip withthe Church-Ca- tholick right unto all Church-priviledges T hirdly, he then be- coms a member of a particular Chuich, but hath no right to Church-priviledgesbecaufe of that, but becaufc of his iotmer memberlhip with the Church-CotholtcK. I fhali own this method rightly underftood, though they tyerc not my word?, but only colle&ed out of them, i conceive that a man of any Nation converted to be a vilibUbtlieyer,is a member ofibeChiifch-Catholick enEtive, being within the g^nerall ex* ternal Covenant: and hereby hath light to all Church priv , ledges, that belong to the whole Church, and that his particular raenaberthip which he corns to next,doth not afford him his right, but opportunity only. But when M> Hooker comes to fhew how this croflFrth G< ds method, he onelyftieweph that it ciolleth the me hed that G d uled in the nationall Church of tie Jews, which being in popu- lo Ifraditice muff needs differ from the method in populo Ca - tholm, A perfon being a viable believer nitft join bimielf to the Jewifh Church before he can partake of their priviltdges, becaufc ibepriviledges by Gods Covenant were fo given, but now the Covenant is Catholick, ir is lutfickntto be m the ge¬ neral 1 Covenant to make a man have right to the priviledges of the Covenant j eppoitunicy indeed cometh by joining him* fell with fome particular Congregations, u here >he Ordinanc s are adminiftred, ot k me particular piiviUdges, but not th ge. ncrall, ivr my part therefore 1 conceive and conclude, that the * Chill Cu™ mm* if an Integral, 9 & Chnrch-Catholick vifibleis Tatum integrate ,and the particular o « Gbuchesar^^rw firmUres*, or members thereof and parcel! thereof. As ibe Jewifla Synagogues were of the jewifh Church, though wi bfomc mope privMcdge for both Sacran ears. And therefore Jam. 2. 2, the Apoftle cailech a Chriftian Aftembiy a Synagogue, in the Greek. If there come im0jour Synagogue a>man with a gold ring. And Heir. 10.23. The Apoftle calls their af* fetnblmgm Chriftian Congregations cmvjwety&ylwj a coming together into a Synagogue. So Tylenus *n Syntag . de %ccl. difi. 1 Ihtt. 3. Quawvis Eeclefa nomen ufit at ins fit pro Chrtftuno cdtttty quant Synagog £., teamen ne hanc quidem aipe llationem refipuit Setri- ftura.Lum enim utriufqs TeftamentiEcclefa^una eademq\ ftjeem- du m ejfentiam ; nno eodemque nomine utrumque pcpxlum indigic tare nihil vetat. Neither am I averfe f rom the opinion of fuch who make theleveral Synagogues of the Jews fcveral depending Churches ; for they had there the Word read and preached,and praitr, and there they kept days of humiliation, and thtre they had their Officers ot the Sy nagogue,and the difpenfation of dif- cipline, even of excommunication, Job.yzi.QneXy the cenlure* were with liberty of appeal', in cate of msle-adminiftration. And they are called by the Pfalmi Q y the houfesof 6WjPjk.83.1a. And the Apoftles feparated not from them any where, until they perfi cuted ihem. lotum effentiale five genericum^ doth not compriie the form efthe fpecies in it telt, but giveth the matter or common na¬ ture to the JpecieS) but the Chui ch-Catholick is made up of the matter and torm of the particular Churches conj ined, as a whole houfe of the particular rooms in it: and the particular Chuiehe* have in them, a dconlift of part of the matter a id part of the form of the whole quoad fiatttm externum. And thefe parts are limited and diftingufthed from others by prudentials limits for convenience of meeting and maintenance, and tranfr afting ot bunt efle: and every Cbriifian i* or ought to bee a > s member of the Church in w h' »fe limits he dweh, being already in the general I Covt rvam by ba- tifm. I do not hold ( as conceivt * from my woids ) that meer cohabitation divol- Veth a Church membrrfhip a -on a man, for then a Meat hen 5 Turk, or Jew, (hould be a Church- member, if cohabiting with a N 3 Churchs $6 That the Chmch-Cathohckjs vifibte, 8cc» Chaft 4. Church: Due 1 expretkd uu condition ot being baptized, and fo in the gtnerall Covmant,and h.n he ought to aiLciace with the Chu cli where God layetb out his habitation , and they ought not to refute him , except {here be lufficient caule of ccn- fure. For of any Ghriftians dwelling in any City or Town, where there was a Church , and he no 10 be a nemberof that Church, or to be a member of another Church in another Town ?Or City , and refide in his own but per accident ( as foine diftiri- guifh) hath neichlr example nor warrant in the Scripture. And muft imply either that he holdeth them not to be a Church and to not of the Kingdom of Cbrift , or elfe fuch a corrupt part tharhe dares not joyn himfelf with them. And as a man that comes to dwell in a Town ought not to refute to be a member of that Town , but frail be ruled by die Officers there¬ of in civil affairs , and if belike not, he may* yea, muft remove from them, if he will noc fubmic himfelf; and it he continue with th< m, he will be liable to punifhment or reftraim, by thole civil Officers?, if theiebe iuft caufe : G I conceive if any pro- felled fubjeft of Ghrilib Kingdom fhall lit d »wn, and cohobit with a Church W’thin ihe civ ill limits allotted for fuch a Con¬ gregation, he not ornly oughc alTbciate with them,but the Of- ficersof that Church ought rotakt the infpt&ion of him, and if he be dangeroufly heretical or propbane, and ifteitby dange¬ rous and often five, they ought to take care 01 his cure, and the prefervation of the reft of th ir members, by cenluring of him, whether he will or no, in regard of his habitual general mtm- beifhip , and their habi ual indefinite office. And though civil prudential limits, wherein a Congregation dwels, give no for¬ mality to the Church being heterogeneaI , yet as the limits of the particular Teas , and their names, are from the (hoars and lands they are bounded by, though heterogeneal: lo may par¬ ticular Churches well be bounded and denominated by their civil limits. We find frequently in Scriprure, the Church wh'ch wosat Jerufalem , jdntioch^ Corinth , Ephefus , and Cen~ ehrea And fo it is in New England^ the lcverall Church.s a e limit’d and named by the prccm&s, and names of thecivnl divisions of Towns. The Chriftiansof Bofton aftociated toge¬ ther, make the Church of Bofion: if there be any not adociated, yet 1 hut the ChHrch*C*thQlu\ ts vifibk* y« U b their duty to joyn,and the } ought to be received, except as 1 laid before. * Sett* l f » CHAP. V. That the Clwrch-CathoUck^ts vijib V. I now pr^c r ed to prove the Church- Catholirk to be vifible , which is the thing 10 mu p.248. pg 'lbat the Church-Catholic f is vifibU „, And hf addeth chat this vifibility ratherlheweth,<|wW ft Ecclefa , r M- 5 . _ *- Now vilible is that which may be feen ^Viftbile eft quod vtderi poteff.-e.ihax which hath a capabkneis in it ielf to he leen:herein it dliie-s trvmvifumftor tha t is that which is aftually feen. Now as Cameron and others of this fubjef) do diftinguifh, things may be (aid to be vilible either per fe & pnmari'op&d Co only light and c lour are viiible;or elCeper accident, and fo figure, magnitude, motion, and all other things, which Wc fay are viable are feen : a man is not feen perfe, butp^r accident. 1 he fccond k'nd of via¬ bility is meant in tlm queftion, -viz. per accident & per ejfttta, as all other focieties are vilible. Secondly, a thing may be faid to be vifible, either diftwlte or confute, the Chuich-Catholick is vilible in the fecond fen fe, which Cameron al.o granteth 3 />.2^6. And al'quatenut^iliquando^ CT al’quo modo.-& aUqmbut. p. 247 • j T hirdiy, a thing may be laid to be vilible either two mtuitu,& fimttl-, or fecundumparte r, at feverall afpefts. Thefiilt way only one fide of a thing can be feen,, viz .-one plain,and fmall lupei fi- cies. The fame man cannot be leen at the fame view in iti his external! parts, nor yet the Sun which is molt invilible. Tne Church-Cad ol’ck cannot be teen ft no intuitu^ but fecundum par- tesyftve membra. Fourthly, fome things are vifible only by the ey", and judged of by the common fen fe; but fome other things require an aft ot theundrrftandmg to put thofe viable parts tug< ther 5 io appre¬ hend ; he unity thereof. Theunityof a man or a tree the very beaft can dilcern, but the unity of a fociety or Kingdom, though it be vifible, they cannot difeern, becaufe they want underhancl¬ ing to put the parts together. And in this laft fenfe the Church-Catholitk is fa»d to be vifi¬ ble, as a Kingdom or Empire is : the eye and common fenfe a- lone cannot difeern the unity of it,but there is requHitean aft of the und rlfanding to put the vifible parts together in apprehen- itan. No man will deny an Empire to be vifible, becaufe he can* not fee the union ot it with his eyes. Again, 1 did nor take vilible in the llrifteft fen r e, viftbile eft qmdrftdiat per medium, ut Inminofiim, & cofot atum, but tor that > . which ■■ ■■■■ — — ■ ■ ■ . . . J --— ■ ' —- That the C burch- Catbolick^ ispijible • $$ _ a which is percep ible by any of the fenfes ; yea, to the perceiving „ of which there is required an aft of the undemanding alfo, to * *• conceive of it, and put the parts together, yet not by logical ab- ftraftion, but mental appoiition and conjunction, as we mail do to perceive the unity of a Kingdom. The nearer the parts lie, the more is the visibility 5 and the further off, the lefle* A Con¬ gregation is more vifible(in this fenfe) then a National Church, and a National then the Oecumenical. The more vifible the copula or bond is, the more vifible the thing is. Having (hewed you what Church-Catholick is viable, and how the Church-Catholick maybe faid to be yifible; I come to prove by arguments that it is vifible or perceptible. But in¬ deed the difficulty liethnot here, but in the integrality; for if the Church-Catholick be an integral, it will eafily appear to be avifible one. Firif, if the fubjeft matter, the perfons of whom the Church-Catholick doth confiff, be vifible, the whole Church is vifible alfo: But they are all vifible : Therefore fo is the whole Church. That the whole Church confifteth of men and women who are vifible believers ( not vifible as men, but as believers alfo ) none will deny. That the vifibility of the whole will neceffarily follow, is as undeniably true; for what makes a thing vifible, but the vifibility of the materials ? The efiential forms of the moft vifible things are not vifible ; as of a ftone, ora man. Nothing can be faid to be invifible, whofe materials are vifible* Secondly, If the converfion into the whole Church be vifible, then the whole Church is vifible. But the converfion is vifible. Therefore, &c. That converfion into the vifible Church is vifible, none can deny. The Apoftles made a vifible conqueft of the world by their preaching- They were charged by Demetrius to have turn - ed the world up fide down, A ft-17.6, They turn’d men from Idol to ferve the living and true God , 1 Thef. 1.9. That this conver¬ fion was not into a particular Congregation, but into the ex¬ ternal vifible body and kingdom of Chrifl, is as clear ; and the gathering them into particular Congregations, and fetting El- O ~ 4 200 Chap, 5. 7hat the Church Catholick^u'Vtfible. ders over them wag a tecond work. And the confequence will follow 9 forfuchas the converfion is, fuch is the Church into which they are converted ; viiible converfion makes no man a member of the invisible body, but of the viiible onely, invifible grace is required for that. Thirdly, if the profeflion, lubjeftion, obedience, and con- verfadon of the members of the whole Church be vifible, then the whole Church is viiible. But they are viiible; There" fore, &c. T heaflumption none will deny. It is called a profejftdfub- jeffion, a Cor. 9 13. and Rom. 16. 19. Your obedience is come abroad unto all. Let jour light fo Jhine before men , that they may Jeejour good rvorks^ Mat. 5.16. It is toward God in duties of £he firft table, and towards men in duties of the fecond, in cha¬ rity, chaftity, equity, truth, humility, meeknefle. Phil. 1.27. 2/^.3. 17, yea, viiible to them that are without, 2 Pet. 3.11. Now whac reference hath this profeflion, fubjeftion, obedi¬ ence,. converfaticn to the particular Congregations? Do they prokfte, fubjeft themfelvs to the laws of Chrift, and yield obedience thereunto in a godiy converfat’on , becaute they are members of this or that particular Congregation, or becaufe they are entered into the general Covenant, whereby they are madefubjefts and members of Chrifta Kingdom ? Is the parti¬ cular confederation the ground andcaufe of their profeflion* fubjettion, obedience, and godly converfaticn ? Were not thefe found in them before they were thought meet to be entred in¬ to the particular confederation ? tvere they not judged to be fubjetts to Chrift, andvifible members of his body, and in ex- ternalCovenant, before their admittance ? How then could that be the ground thereof ? Indeed there are foftie particular duties and priviledges which relate in an efpecial manner to the particular Congregation, and a particular unity of a particular Church , as a member of the whole body refillteth therefrom , but not ths general duties 2 privileges» or mem- berlhip. Suppofe a man be a freeman of forae Corporation, as //>/- mchy though thereby he hath the privileges of the particular Corporation belonging to him, and particular duties belong¬ ing That the Church- Catholtck^ is vifible • IOI ing to the Corporation are required of him, and he requires Q - and receiveth the privilege of a fubjed, the execution of the^’ laws of the Kingdom there ; yet he mult be conceived a mem¬ ber of the Kingdom, before he can be admitted a frec-man of the Corporation, and he receives the general priviledgts, and performs the general duties in reference so that, and not in reference to the particular Corporation, and his mernberfhip thereof; though he hath the opporunity of enjoying the one, and performance of the other, in that particular fociety. And yet this doth not make the kingdom a Genus , and the Corpor¬ ation a thereof, but the kingdom an integral, and the Corporation a member thereof. So is the cafe between the whole Church and the particular. Yet with this difference, all. the particular Churches are fimilar parts of the whole Church, fo are not all Corporations, nor all villages, they differ fome- times in kindeg of Officers, fometime in particular immuni¬ ties, Alfo the fimilarity of the parts of the whole Church,gives the fame denomination to the particular Churches with the whole, the particular Congregation is called a Church as well as the whole, whereas no particular Corporation is called a King¬ dom: and this it the caufe why the particular Churches are deem¬ ed to be fpecies , whereas indeed they are members of the whole, viz,, becaufe of the identity of denomination;, but identity of de¬ nomination or fimilarity of parts, are not iufficientto make a genus and fyecies , cfpecially where the whole is conflituted by an external Covenant. 4-If the Officers which Chrift hath given to the whole Church be vifible , then fo is the Church. But the Officers are vifible. Therefore, &c> That the Officers are vifible none will deny, becaufe they are vifibly called, ordained, and execute their office vifibly. That vifible Officers argue a viiible politie, is as clear, fuch as the Of¬ ficers are(inrefpe& of visibility or invifibility)fuch is the King¬ dom. That the Miniftry is given to the whole Church, as the Le- vites were to all Jfrael^znd that they are all Officers of the whole habitual,and habitually have*power to difpenfethe Ordinances of Chrift in any part of the whole Church upon a call, (balihe proved. c, 6 ,f. 4, O 2 $ if. 7hat the Church Catholtck^is vifible. 5. If the admittance in-to the whole Church, and eje&ion out of it be vifible, then the whole Church is vifible. But ad¬ mittance by Baptifm, ejection by excommunication are vifible. Therefore, &c. That admittance and eje&ion being publick a&s hefore the whole Congregation, are vifible, none will deny* That fuchas the admittance or eje&ion is (in regard of viability ) fuch is the fociety or polity , is as clear. That the admittance is into the whole, and ejettion out of it, hath been proved already, and fhall more fully afterward. Either by Baptifm men are admitted into the particular Church, or the whole Church, or no Church:but not into the particular Congregation,no man is baptized into the particular Congregation, it is not the feal of the particular Covenant .* therefore it is into the whole or none. If a heathen be converted in a Congregation, fitft hereceivs baptifm, afterward is admitted a member of the particular con¬ federation. 6 . If the Do8Tme 5 Lawp,Ordinances, Charter, and Covenant of the whole Church be vifible,then fo is the whole Church, But they are vifible. Therefore,^, That the Do&rine,Laws,Ordinances, Charter,and Covenant of the whole Church are vifible, none will deny 5 for they may be feen, read,preached, and heard. That they belong to, and lonftitute the whole , is as undeniable. Of the fame nature that the laws and charter of a kingdom is (inrefpeftof vi¬ ability ) of the fame nature is the kingdom. Now it is not the invifible law of nature written in the heart, that confti- tutes the vifible Church, for the Heathens have that, Rom* 2. 35. nor is it the invifible law of grace, promifed to be written in God’s peoples hearts, Jeremiah 31.53- for many members of the vifible Church have not that ; but it is the vifible fyfteme of laws, and covenant given by Chrift to his vifible Church. And thefe Laws, Charter, and Covenant are the very co - fula or bond of the external body and kingdom of Chrift, and thereby they are bound to worfhip and difeipline, Now where the copula or bond uniting vifible farts together , is vifi - bis, then the iwfole is vtfble: But the copula or bond is vifible: , Therefore 1 hat the Church-Cathohck is vifible . 105. ■ - ■ » -a . - ______ ____ » Therefore fo is the -whole . A vifible 6ond cannot unite invifible o n members. . # bdt ' & Againft this it is obje&ed by Mr. Hooker , That divers feveral kingdoms may be governed by the fame laws, and yet remain feveral kingdoms. Anfiw. It is true 3 itispoflible that all the kingdoms of the earth may fubmit to, and be governed by the fame fyftemeof lav/s, and many now are by the civil law , and yet remain fe¬ veral, But they arife not from the fame fountain,the fame King or Governors, nor bind not in fubjeftion and obedience unto the fame King, nor to mutual duties of fubjetts between them- ftlvs as fellow-fubje&s: but are embraced vi materia or forme^ becaufe found convenient, and receive a feveral ftamp of autho¬ rity from the feveral States or Governors, .whereby they are obliging in the feveral kingdoms. But thefe Laws proceed from the fame fountain, the fame Lord Jefus, the King of the whole, and are obliging from the fame authority to all Chriftians in * the whole world, therefore they are one vifible Church or king¬ dom tnyftical. It the whole Church be a Genus, it is confti- tuted and united together by a vifible external Covenant and Laws* which is not confident with the nature of a Genm as a Genus, 7. If all the adminiftrations,and difpfnfations,and operations of the whle Church be vifible, fo is the whole Church : But they are all vifible. Therefore, ehr. That they are all vifible ( being publickly done ) none will deny, Ob], But thefe adniiniftrations,difpen{ations, and operations are afted in the feveral Congregation$ 5 and are not actions of the whole Church. Anfw* So is juftice adminiftred at A discs and Seldom in feve¬ ral Counties and Corporations, but it is the juftice of the whole a becaufe it is adminiftred by the fame laws , and by the fame au¬ thority,and is common to all the fubje&soi the kingdom. A man dwelling in any part of the kingdom being tried at Suffolk. A 1 B- 2es may receive his fentence and execution there, if guilty. So all Church-adminiftrations are by the fame laws, and upon the fame command; and perfon* of any Church in the world may O 3 hear *P„4 Ibat the Church-Catholtck^is viftblt Chop* .5 hear, fing, pray, and communicate any where indefinitely up¬ on oecafion , though conftantly the particular members onely enjoy thofe particular adminiftrations from thole particular Officers. 1 anfwer further, that the Church-Catholiek may a& vifibly by their delegates ( ag a Kingdom in a Parlament ) in a general Council, if they can convene : though their power were whol¬ ly confultatory and fuafory ( as feme plead ) but it is more. All their debates , arguings pro & con , all their advice and de¬ crees are vifible : therefore the whole whole delegate! they are, is vifible alfo. The invifible Church ( as invifible ) fend none. 8. Ifit be our duty to join our felves vifibly to the Church- Catholick, then it is vifible : But we ought to join our felves to the Church-Catholick. Therefore, &c. The Afiumption none will deny. As foon as the 3000. were converted by Peter 9 they were added to the Chuch. Chnftians may not Hand alone independently. Now that n ull be a vifible Church that we muft join unto , for the invifible is within the 'vifible, and cannot be known. God commands no impoflibili- ties. It is true indeed we muft join to fome particular Con¬ gregation (as a forreigner coming over into England co inha¬ bit, being naturalized, muft dwell in fome particular Town ) but to that Congregation as a member of the whole, wherein we may enjoy the general privileges of fubit&s ofChrift firft,and the particular privileges of that Congregation fecondarily. There is no particular command to join to this or that particu¬ lar Congregation,but the whole; neceffity compelleth to choofe one. Our particular joining to this or that Congregation is not in obedience to the command^for then,had w* joined to another we had broken a command, thererefore that is arbitrary and li¬ mited by civil habitation neceftarily. 9 * K the accidents of the whole Church be vifible, then fo is the whole Church. But there be vifible accidents of the whole Church. Therefore,^. An invifible fubjeft hath not vifible accidents. But fo hath the whole Church;as beauty, ftrengtb, order, amplitude, which way increaleordecreafe, and thefe arc accidents of the whole, arifing That the Church-Gatholick^ is vijible. aniing and refulttng from all the parts conjoined, and made on.- upot the beauty, ftrength, order, and amplitude of all t!w S ' 4 ’ i°5 parts. rhiS t K y b r g ! neral y ifiMeoppolhion again ft the whole C hurch3 not beeaufe in paruotlar confederation, but the ge^ neral. Theie persecutors are vifible, their aftions are vifibly ma- naged, by attachments, prifons, fire and faggot: their effeas vi- iibk : fines, impnfonments , confifeation r banifhment and death : and cheretore the objeft hereof, the whole Church, rauft needs be viljble allo. And all this meerly becaufe they belong to Chi ijt, and havegiven up their names to him. And becaufe &doh sg r othe faa,e ,xc£fs ofriot ’ or wor,hi p the R t ! K . parls °t‘b* whole Church be vifible, fo is the forc e lhe part * ° f thc whole Church «e vifible. There- . Bypar " Im 5‘ n "ot thc particular perfonsonely,but particu- • rfl egat -°L s ' Now no b e deny the particular Churches '“ b '‘", blt > ne,th ' r our brethren for Congregational Churches, . the itparauon, And Gerard though he will not grant Chuixh Cathohck to he vifible, yet faith, Ecclefiasfarticul*. 3 *£■ 1 e * e fl* cpn?edimusjL he confequence will neceflarily fol¬ low, for the vifibihty of the whole refults out of the vifibility of the parts An innumerable number of vifible pans cannot make - an invmble whole. Againft this M. Ellis W. 59. allegeth that it is too lax a mtdaum in fo weighty a fubjeft as this is. “ There is ( faith he ) TVeM siinerpnrp hp+wo*** ~ . 7 t ? ^ cc«. * j rr - - were IS ( Ultn QC J mat diff erence between natural andmetaph/Jical', or civil and J, l,ck ~ For , m “ natural body all wbofe parts and mem- bersare aSuaty and naturally jeined together, the whole is vi. ecaufet e parts are vifible : but in a metaphy fical body or totum or whole, that is in Generals, that are by the reafon of man drawnfromparticulars, the cafe is far otherwife. Peter, James, an John are vijible, but manhood which is the univerfal f, ’ h \ m r a,l f "ot vifible. This being the fame with my both. aiM 1 d ° Wnmy rhcfi *’ one anfwer (hall ferve for ■sdnfiv. M. Ellis knows I took not the Charch-Caiholick for a Gems That the Church-Catholick^ is viftblt a Genus , but an Integral. But let it be fuppofed a Genus lor ar- Chjp* S• gumcnt Take, or as Mr. Hookjr calls it, Tctumgenericnm exiflens y which is fometiing fairer then Mr. Ellis’ s grant; for by M .Ellis’ 6 reafoning the Church-Catholick fhouki be a Genus drawn by the reafon of man, and fo exiting onely in intellect* nofiro. 1 fay, fuppofetheChurch-Cathoiick to bea(>f7*w, and the par¬ ticular Churches Species , yet this is not fufficient to make the Church-Catholick to be invifible; Will any man fay, that Ani¬ mal eft fubflantia inv if bills y becaufe it exifteth onely tn homine & brutol Indeed animality in the abftraft is invifible, but not a - ntmal in concreto: fo Ecc left etas ( as I may fay ) is invifible, but Eeclefia is vifible. Vifibilicy is an accident belonging pri¬ marily to a higher Genus then animal , viz. Corpus color atumytnd though every Individual animal is vifible, as John and James ,yet not qua John or James but as coloured bodies: and it a higher Genus be vifible, which is nearer Ens y and further from Indivu duals , then much more animal. So in this cale the Church-Ca- tholiek is a fociety of men, and that M. Ellis denieth not 5 now every fociety of men is vifible, and therefore the Church which is a fpeetes of fociety muft need be fo alfo, for the vifibility doth not betide it,becaufe it is a particular Congregation,but becaufe it is a fociety of men, which is a higher Genus : I mean this in a logical confideration. Then he proceeds to deny a civil body or Corporation, if great % a as an Empire , Kingdom , or large Ctty y to be fees in it felf but in u thepans. Anftv. Here hee confounds viftbile and vifum urn intuitu: and by this reafoning he Ihould deny the vifibility of the world, or any particular man, for all his parts cannot befeen uno intu¬ itu. At tame n infaniat qui neget fe vtdere hominem y faith Cameron . iYea , the Sun it felf Ihould not be vifible by this reafoning, be¬ caufe we can fee but the furface of it. He could not be ignorant that I did not mean that the Church-Catholick was actually feen uno intuitu. And whereas I had faid the whole is vifible, becaufe the parts are fo. He faith ic is untrue even in the fmalleft bodies , but where the parts are actually united together , not where they are thoufands of wiles a funder. Anfw* 2 hat the Chur c h~ Catholick^ is vifible, Ak[w. It is true indeed in natural and artificial bodies, whofe being or integrality confifteth in a corporeal continuity,or con- s *& tiguity of parts 5 for if that continuity or contiguity ccafeth the integral alfoceafeth, except in potent id, But in politicall bodies joined together by laws, under one government, it is other wile,- thediftance cf place hinders not the integrality of the whole , and though it cannot be feen un 0 intuitu, by the fame man at once ( unlefie by way of repre- fentation, as in a Parlament or Common-CouacilJ, asM- Ellis foith ) nor yet be perceived to be one without fome aft of the undemanding, yet this maketh not the City or Empire invi- hble. He confeffeth the Church Catholick to be vifible in refpeft of tlie leverall parts, and places where they dwell: but this ( faith he ) is to prevaricate, and to prove that which is not in quefti- pn. Bathe might remember that I took vifible in the explica¬ tion of the terms of the queftion, to be meant in regard of vi¬ fible communion in holy Ordinances, though the perfons never congregate into one pi ac^, to be feen with one mans eye; but in oppolition to inward invifible communion. Let him grant but fuch a vifibility ofthe Chnrch-Catholickas was in any of the iour Monarchies, ora civill kingdom, which yet are feen but in their feveral parts and places,and I contend for no more. I fuppofe no particular Congregation was ever feen together, in all the members thereof, uno intuitu : and yet is vifibly one in regard of the part icular confederation, and ufual meeting of moft of the members. Is not England a viiible Kingdom, though feen but in the parts of it ? was it not vifible before there was a Parlament to reprefrnt it, or doth it ceafe to be vifible in the intervals of Parlament > The vifibility of it confifieth in the vifibility ofthe Perfons, Corporations, Places, Laws, Govern¬ ment. So is the cafe of the Church.Citholick whofe Perfons Places,Laws.( which are the vifible bond >nd Government are* zs external and vifible as thofeof the Kingdom, i. e. lyable to fenfe, and perceivable by fenfe, though not aftually feen by the fame man at once. ' I defire it might be noted that the Church-Catholick which >ur Divines fpeak of in their difputes againft the Papifb, is not P this 'That the Ckurch-C atholtck^is vifble % joj this Ghurch-Ca*holick which we have now in hand, but that is nap. 5. the whole Church or company of the el c&, both paft, prdent, and to come. 1c is the Church taken in the tirft fenf, in the ex* plication of the terms of the Queftion , not the extern all, poli¬ tical, mixed Church or kingdom of Chrirt. Neither doth that Chinch agree with this,but only nominally and equivocally, in that it is called by the fame name,but it is not the lame in nature or fenle: and therefore fhould that and this be ufed in a fyllo- gifm, there would be four terms. For that Church is neither external, nor vilible, nor exiftent, nor or ganical, it hath no Of* hcers,it isno polity: it is not that which M* Hooker calls To-- turngenericum exifiens : for many of them ue already in heaven, and the fpirits ef [ujl men made perj eft, many not yet born, many not yet converted. Now to make that the Genus of the vilible, external, political Churches of Chrifi, were a3 abfuid as to make the veflels of gold to be the Genus of the lilver, brazen, pewter, wooden, ftony and earthen vefTels of a houfe, or a marble building to be the Go ms of all the buildings of other (tones, brick and timber. And thereforeto difpute fro m that to this, isnot adtdem, I fuppole that neither M.y Heolijr, nor M. Ellis, meant that Church, no more then 1 8 If the genus comprehend only invifble members, the fpecies fhould be only of In vilible members elib.The genus is of the fame nature or predicament with the fpecies, and all that is common to. all the fpecies is found in the genus, and fetched from thence. There is nothing in man, but it is in animal, except the fpecifical form, whe:eby he differs from a brute, and nothing in animal but it is in man, except its totality or generality, whereby it comprehends man and brute. If homo and brutum be vifible living iubftances, they received it from animal. 1 he genus giveth eflence to the fpecies^ and is fymbolum catt- famaterijlis : but the Church of the Fleft giveth not efTence, nor matter to the vilible Church i for there are many members of this which are not invilible: neither ate the eled members of this, qua invifible, but qua txifknt and vilible. The vifible snd invilible Church are concra-difHnft branches cf a diftributi • on ex afuncits, vcl wedo communions, therefore the one cannot be *lhat the Church-Catholick^ ts vijihle, be th e genus of the other, for then th e gems and focies ftiould ~ not be of the fame general predication or denomination; but the 4» inviiible fhould b * genus of the vifible • one branch be genus of the other, which is contrary to all Logick. The invilibiiity ot this gems arikth not from a reparation of the inviiible members from the viiible, or the fteep from the goats, but arifeth from a mental abftrattion ; it is the invifibf- lity of a motion, not of the perfons: It is not by culling out fuch as have inviiible grace,and leaving the reft ; for that which is fo culled out,is not comprehenfive of them both. The gentu drawn by logical, memal abilrattiori from the raoft corporeal, vifible fubfiances, is as inviiible, qua genus^t a genus of incorporeaLin- Either that Church-Catholick which our Divines fpeak of is the genus of particular vifible Churches, or it is not. If it bee then ic muflbean external! vifible polity (in general! notion ) which mull comprehend all the external, vifible, Ecclefiafticall Polities on earth ; and io hypocrites as well as the Eleft. The ffecies confift of fuch matter, and therefore io mull the genus in the notion,! mean*, but that they deny of their Church-Ca* ho- lick vifible. If it be not : then it is not the Church-Catholick which M. Hooker and M. Ellis intend$ for they intend a generall Church which comprehends in notion all the vifible Churches under it And therefore they differ from our Divines in their meaning of the Church-Catholick $ as much as 1 do; And fo join not,nor eon* cur with our Divines in the fame fubjea, neither is it ad idem Now if we make the Church-Catholick anabftraft, general! notion, comprehending all particular Churches under ic as a genns^ then we makeChrifts vifible,external Kingdom on earth, onely a logic al^ non-eyiftmg notion ; and the particular Congre¬ gations to be the feyeraljpecies of the Kingdom of Jefus ChrilL all comprehended under one logicall, comprehenfive notion, and the particular Covenant or confederation of fuch or fuch a company between themfeives, fhculd conftitute a kingdom of Jefus Chr iff And fowhen a man removes from one^ongre- gadon into another, he Ihould remove out of one Jpecies into another: and in the interm be quite out of the kingdom of P2 Chrilf, I 10 Chap. 5. That the Church-C atholickjs vifible * Chrift } bccaule he is out ot all tne fpectes of ChrilVs kingdom, and a particular member cannot txift under this gems, for it is a genus ot Congregations, qua Congregations, and not of tingle perfons, And then it will follow, that many a vifible believer (hall be no member ofChrifts viilble * of the particular Churches, the members thereof. Anftv, Where there are txiftiiig vilible members, thsre mud bee an cxifting vilible Integral. Omne membrnm hahet [titan in » tegrum . The fame Obje&ion lyeth as well againft any aggregative body- A heap of ftones may as well be faid to exift ondy in the exiftence ofthe particular ftones, and a particular Congrega¬ tion exift in the cxiftence of the particular families, and parti¬ cular families cxdt in the particular perlons. But if the mem¬ bers *xift qua members , the exiftence of the integral! re** ful:s out of their conjoyned exiftence, and fo doth the via¬ bility* An army exifteth in the feverall brigades, and regiments, and they are billited and quartered in diftant places, and yet having'the fame Generali , the fame Laws martial!, the fame caufe. the fame enemies , although they fhould never bee drawn up together in one body at one place, yet are they one vilible Army. So is the Church-Catholick one, and th it vilibly ( as I (hewed in the beginning of this Chapter ) though there goeth an aff of the mindc r o the peroeivance of the unity. It is a po¬ litical union by the lame viable Charter, and Laws, and way 3 under one Commander in chief, and therefore vi)ib!e,.* r e. per¬ ceivable by fenfe though not by fenfe onely, the very uniting bond, the Laws are vilible „• yea, the exiftence of it will more appea r ,becaufe it hath priviledges belonging thereunto, which particulars have not, or but in part, and at fecond hand,as hath been (hewed in the former Chapt. and (hall more fully in the fe¬ cond Queftion. This Objection M* Ellis^jind p. 5 . 6 . undertakes to fetdown, and marks it in the margin,as if he had cited my words, but mif- feth bot h my words and fenfe. And then fails upon the Anfwer, and faith,that cc it amounts * to anfwer, for no collefted body that is made up of fe*» verall things, hath its being in thefe things feverally confi- ^3 deredg. xi 2 That the Ckurch- Catholic^ isvifible. r[ 4< dered and apart, but as united altogether, it is not an heapof i “ ftones, if one lie at Tork^> Come at London , others in France, ' . mini ft ei tally* But I took general in theufual fenfe of it, and not precifely confidered. He knows the four Councils are known by the name of die four general Councils. And fo himfclf calls them yvind. p. 15 1. 37.1 took the term generall in the lenfe that we call the four Monarchies} the Monarchies of the whole world, and That the Church-Cathohck^ is vifible • 115 ^ftd yet we know there were many countries that were never un- „ ^ derthem. Andas£*% Ad. 2. 5. laith, there were dwelling * ct ' 5 * at Jerufa/em Jews, devout men cut of every Nation under hea¬ ven : and yet there were many Nations where Jews never dwelt, fome of which were difcovered lately. But let him look into Eufeb.de vita Confiantini , lib. 3. and Socrates Scholafi. lib. 1. cap. 8. and he fhali finde from how many Countries the firft Council of Nice was gathered. y~ “ bta, and Mefopotamia. There was alfo in this Synod the Bi- not iffu : but by his civil fan&ion he did confirm their decrees, and fend them abroad. Neither is there any ground that in that or any other Counci! s the members a&ed onely That the Church Catholick^is vifible. Ji6 Chap, 5 • onely each for his own particular Church that ftntjhun ( a?- Ellis luggefteth ) but the whole for the whole, as tar as their de¬ legation was. I acknowledge there is power given to every particular Church to rule it fdf, and extreife thedifcipline otthe Church for the being and well-being of it ordinarily. Yet lo as it is a part of the whole Church, into which alfo the cenlures there palTed have influence. And on lomegrsat occafions there may becaufe to fetch help further, as Cranmer appealed to a gene¬ ral Council. But it that extenlive power cannot be had, as now it is very difficult; then muft the particular, nation al, pro¬ vincial, Clascal, or congregational Church reft in that intenfive power that remains within its own limits j or alfo if they (land fo as that they cannot combine with neighbors,or have recourfe unto them. Extraordinary cafes cannot be regulated by ordi¬ nary rules. And this I conceive is the reafon why the Scripture hath not determined more particularly the Synodical Aflem- blies } but onely giveth general rules that may be drawn to par¬ ticulars, becaufe all Churches and feafons are not capable of national or provincial Synods, in regard of many things that may be incident. In fome cafes alfo all civil power muft reft in one Congrega¬ tion as ifit were in a wildernefle, where there were no neigh¬ bour Towns or cities to which it might be joined. Yet itfol- loweth not that it muft be fo in England. , or any other king¬ dom, where there are Counties, Shires, Cities, great Towns, or a Parlament. Yea, 1 know not but a particular family may, yea, muft be independent in fuch an extraordinary cafe, bath in Ecclefiaftical and civil matters alfo : yet it follows not that there is fuch an inherent right in every town or family all over the world, and that therefore particular Towns and families in England are debarred of an inherent priviledge belonging to them, becaufe necefiity may put fuch an Independency on fome, in an extraordinary cafejas by Ihipwrack,or being call into fome Ifland not inhabited. Here M* Ellis chargeth me to fay, that the power of a gene¬ ral Council, ( or of a Church-Catholick viftbiej is£#rextefc- five, and onely extenfive, and not intenfive, and the power of . ‘ the That the Cburch-Cathohcl^ isvifibU* the particular Churches is incentive. But Sir, do as you would be ^ done bys. Ic is not fair dealing to note them as my words which ^ e were none of mine, nor my fenfe. For firft, [ never conceived a general! Council to be the whole Church-Catholick vifible, but oncly an Occumenicall, minifteriall or reprefentative body of Office s, or Organs of the Church, much lefle the prime Church to which the Ordinances and privileges of the Church were firft given, of which I fpake, as appears in my fecond part. Second¬ ly, I never faid the power of a general! Council was onely ex- tenfive; for as the particular Officers have intenfive power over their particular Congregations, fo hath a generall Council in- tenlive power alfo, but their power is larger in extenfion a&u- afly, then the particular Officers is } being Officers lent from a larger pait of the Chuch-Cacholick, and intrufted by more, and afting for more then one Congregation, or one Elderffiip. This diftinftion M. Parker depetit. EccL lib. 3. p. 121. fetteth down in thefe words. “ Diftiuguo de pot eft ate clavmm^ qua, intenfiva aut extenfivaeft. Intenfivapoteftate caret nulla Ecclefia primary\z» c< particularis ) ne minima cjuidem j extenfivd veto ea caret , quam r the fupremacy of the Pope. The avoiding whereof madeour Div'nes fo ffiy of granting a Church-Catholick vifible, but ; t was not necefifary that they (hould deny upon this ground, as M. Hooker conceives, Surv. p. 251. I fay it is not neceffary to grant a vifible head to the Church-Catholick vifible, no more then to a parficular vifible Congregation, which our brethren hold to be a body of Chr'tft. And though they call it a myftlca! and fpiritual body, yet chat doih not imply it to be invifible. The Sacraments are called myfteries, and myfticaU, and the Or- dinances-are called fpirituall, and yet are vifible, though the grace fignified or conveyed by them to the Eleft, is invifible. They are fpirituall in refpe& of the Authour God, and the di- Qjs vine i>8 |§Mt_ Chap, 5. 1 '[hat the Church Catholick^is vifible. vine fubjeft about which they are, in oppofition to naturall and mill, and fo our Ecclefiafticall Couits were called fpiritual* though indeed as they managed them they made them carnall and finfull. The members of the particular Gongragations are vifible members, and their union and confederation is viiible, and they are a vifible body, mbod of true believers and hypo¬ crites, as Gerard^ Whitaker , Cameron , and even M Bart let m his models confefleth. And their communion is vifible, and yet there is no vifible head on earth required for them,and why then (hould there be for the Church Catholick > Such a head there¬ fore, whether vifible or invifible, prelent or abfent, as will ferve a particular myfUcall body of Chrift, as M. Cotton calls a particular vifible Congiegation,will ferve the Church-Catho- lick vifible, I anfwer further , that the Church-Catbolick vifible hath a head of the fame nature, confiding of body and foul, who fomtimes lived in this vifible kingdom of grace, in the days of his fleffi, and did vifibly partake in external Ordinances,though indeed now he be afeended into his kingdom of glory, yet cea- feth not to be a man, and fo vifible in his humanity as we are, though glorified and glorious, yet not lefie vifible in himfelf for that, but rather more : and ceafeth not to rule and govern his Church here below, for it is an everlafling Kingdom) If at. 9. 7. As when King James was tranflated from Scotland to England, and lived here, he did not ceafe to be King of Scotland : fo nei¬ ther doth Chrift ceafe to be the bead of his Church, though lie be tranflated and afeended to his other kingdom, the kingdom of glory. And as for a Vicar or Deputy here below,it is not need- full. We confefie the government of the Church in regard of the head is abfolutely Monarchical, but in regard of the Officers, it is Ariftocratical. This fecond anfwer is excepted againfi,both by M Ellis vind. p. 5 < 5 .andM- HookerSurv, p.2^8* iC It is fuffictent (faith M* leals,woifhip and communion. Now the fame arguments which prove the Church-Catholick an Integral, will ferve to prove it one organical body alfo, and therefore 1 (hall take fome of them into confideration again, un¬ der this head,and in this notion. Fit ft, it will appear by the names and metaphors whereby the Church Catholick is called and fet out in Scripture, which are t:ken from things which are not onely each of them g £ an Integral, but each of them one Organical body: and in formali rut tone lyeth the analogy between them and the Church, It is compared unto a narurall body, which is an Organi¬ call Integrall having many members and Organs, which though they lie indeed in the feverall members , yet are Organs of the whole, and the feverall members, members of the whole, and do their feveral afrions, and perform their feverall of¬ fices for the good of the whole, and (ympathize together, i Cor 12. 1 1 . For as the body is one , and hath many member s y and all the members of that one body being many , are one body: fo alfo is Chrijl . This is not meant of the Church of Corinth onely, 6ut of the Catholick Church, becaufe it is the whole body to which Chtift is the head, and Chrifti perlon as the head of the whole 5 and this whole body is called Chrift, i, e, myftically* , S the 4 * The Chwch-Catholick, vifiblt the whole receiving denomination from the better part, the head. And to M. Bart let takes it in his Modelyp ag. 55. for the whole Church. And foall expofitors that I have mtc with, except fame few of late,who to avoid the dint of this argument would have t meant of the Church of Corinth-, as a particular Church. Butitwill found very harffi,to make Chrift and the Church of Corinth to be called Chrifi, when they are but the head , and apart ofChriftsbody. It is the body whereof Paul was ameirr» 1We are where Paul puts in himfelf and all believers. Objection. But this is meant of the invisible company of be¬ lievers. . It if true, but it is fpoken of them as vifible, becaufe it is brought in there to (hew the diverfitits of gifts, offices, ope¬ rations and adminiftrations in the vifible Church.* there is an eye and an ear, &c, mentioned, and the Officers of the Church a *n!i ’ n °i W ~ there are no f-^ cers of the invifible Church as in- ynible nor different adminiffiations; as they are members of the invilible body they are all fimilar, and have the fame Handing and opera dons of their generall calling as Chriftians, not as ApOiiles, Prcphets, Evangelffis, &c. And many that have thefe common gifts °f the holy Ghoft (which are by the Spirit of Chrtityand the Offices there meationed,were not invifible mem* ers of Chrift,yet were not only members 3 but Officers in this bo- y there fpoken of # It is alfo the v'fiblebody there meant, be¬ caufe the two external feals, viz., Baptifm and the Lords Supper are fpecified in v. 13 . as means and figns of this union in one bo¬ dy, and they are vifibly adminiftred. . Thcie is an invifible body* of Chrift and a vifible, the invifible U inorgaificalljthe vjfible organical; the invifible while they are 111 theydiole Church are v:fibie members thereof, and fo put on Vf re ^ at *°i 1 of Officer **nd private member. It is true, fame t mgs arefpoken of the whole in reference to the better part, t e in vinmenumotr; and as they all urofefled themfelves to e of the inv/fijle body, f® the Apoftle fpcaks of them, and to them, as if they were as they ought to be, and at leaft made 4 ^ ew as the y were » Sut that the place is meant of an organi- cali -m is one 0 g nical tody* cjI body as one,is cut ofqudtion,ar;d that the analogy between o „ the Church and fuch a body, lay in the unity and organicalnefs ‘ V " 7 ' 4 ' is as dear. The like is fpoken, Rom. 12. 4,5. For a, w e have mam mem. bers tn one body , and all members ha ve not the fame office ; Co we be¬ ing many are onebody in Chnjl^nd every one members one of another. It is th Church Catholickyiot Roman particular Church; Paul putsan himieif, yet had never been at Rome then. Icisorgani- cal, tor the Officers are there enumerated. It is one, for there is a fympathy of members Tpoken of. To this purpofe is that of SalmaJ. Rettnebnur tracts communicativa i & cv^^ha inter omnia membra Dominici corporis, i. e. Ecclefi *, qua nifima fit non pot eft etfevera^typar p. 281. r J Alfo it is fet out by a political body. Sometimes it is cal- led a kingdom , and the kingdom of heaven , as I (hewed before out of many places of Scripture. Now a Kingdom is one Oiganical body ; for fo many men living together within the fame limits make not a Kingdom, but as it is combined Tnfhp L . aws 5 under one Governoar or Government. In the Heptarchy , this one Kingdom fince, under one King and body ofLaws, were ieven Kingdoms. Now if the Church-Ca- aKinar| bearS ^ ? angl ??y one Kingdom as to be called ^Kingdom, it is from this that it is one organized Inte- It is alfo called a City , and fometimes Jerufalem , and as it is reformed it is called new Jernfalem , and the members both of pws and Gentiles are called fellow-citizens, Eph. a. 19. Now a City ! 8 one Orgamcai body under one common Government: therwife fo many houfes or ftreets and inhabitants being toge- ther-jwould not make them a City. Somtimes the buildings and inhabitants, which if under one government would make one city and corporation, being great and near, and haply con¬ tiguous, yet wanting a Charter to make them a Corporation XI ?r e j yea > by difference of Charter, Government and chief Gomnours are two Cities, as London and WeflminHer. S bo h d U y Ch ' Gath ° llCk thcrefore bein 8 one city? is one organi- Alfo it is fet out fometimes by one martial or military S 2 body. s $4 The Church-Ca tholick^ vifible Chap, 6. i body, and is called an Army terrible with banners , Cant. 6 ■ io, which by fome is interpreted Ghurch-cenfures. M • Cotton indeed expounds it of the Church of the Jews,when they (hall be called home by converfion to the Chriftian faith.* to be lure it is the Church-militant. Now an Army s o$e Organical body under one General, and the fame Laws martial, though quartered in diverfe places: therefore fo is the Ghureh-Catholick, It is alfo fet out by an Oeconomicalbody, a family or houftiold, Eph. 2.1 p.Now a family is one Organical body, wherein are Go- vernours or a Governour, and governed, an huiband, father, or mailer; and therefore fo is the Church-Catholick, elfe the ana¬ logy Ihould not hold. All thefe metaphors and many more, whereby the Church-Catholick is fet out, (hew it one vifible,or¬ ganical body. Secondly^bat the Church-Catholick vifible is one foriety vir¬ tually and habitually appears, becaufe by Baptifm where-ever adminilfred, the baptized vifible believer is admitted a member not of the particular Church among whom he was baptized,nor to bear any fpeciall relation to the Minifter baptizing him, that he muft take a fpecial infpe&ion over him as one of his particu¬ lar flock and charge,but into the whole general body of Chrifts kingdom vifible. For, as I fhewed before, there was Baptifm ad¬ minilfred as the feal of the general covenant, before particular Congregations were fet up. See more of this, Qh. 2. S. 2* andS. 8. And alfo becaufe by excomunication a perfon is not call out of that Congregation only where the cenfure was pa ft, but out of general communion with all other Churches in the worid, even the whole vifible body ofChrift. Certificates indeed we findein Scripture to others, of their excommunication , that fo others might avoid communion with them. As of the excommunication of Hymeneus and Alexander ,1 Tim. 1.2 o. And fo we read alfo of certificates of Apoftates, who it is like were excommunicated. As of Phigellus and Hermogenes , 2 Tim. l. 15 • And of Hymeneus and Ebiletus, 2 Tim 2-i7.The former of which wasexcommunicated, and it is probabl the latter alfo,by the fame reafon. The like cer¬ tificate we find again of Alexander,2 Tim. 4.14,15 « But no new aft of excommunication paft upon them any where alfo Alexander \ is one Or gam cal body, -Alexander Bi(hop of Alexandria having excommunicated o ft EufebiW' Biftiop of Nicomedia an Arian, writes an Epiftle to lW * 4 ’ certifie it* to all other Minifters* Chartffimis ho'eoratiffimifque f ambus , qtti ubtquegentium funt nobtfeum in JLccleJia mimfle- rio conjunUi ovtt,flov$yoi< 7o/f etnavja,%n inKhvalcts * Cum tn faerie liter is fit unum corpus Ec cleft a Catholica nobis traditum , Sic, therefore he fignifieth by Letters what he had done, ha HTt'srct- * r* X^P* ** f MpTrdsxvfjSfJ if cvyX'CUftsjfy mu'a vs 3 So- cva.tjtb.i.cap.%. Nine Biftiops excommunicated Jovius&ndMa~ xmus 9 and that excommunication by Cyprian and others was approved as valid* The like we find of Nov atm excommunica¬ ted at Rome by Cornelius and a Council there, and it was certifi¬ ed to Fabtus Biftiop of Antioch , and approved by him , and by Dionyfius Biftiop of Alexandria , to whom the Epiftles came* Eufeb, lib, 6 . cap. 3-5 • And Samofatenus excommunicated at An~ /W^wasfo accounted of the whole wo rid, Ntceph 6 , 28 . The Novatians excomunicated in Africkjire fo held at Rome. Gyp.l. 1, Ep. 3, and 13, . Thirdly, It appears to be one organical body by the identity of the external Covenant, Charter, Promifes, and Laws of the whole Church. The Covenant, Charter, and promifes, are but one grant, not one Covenant in kind and many fpecies thereof^ but one individual Covenant of grace granted to the whole Church. This is not the Covenant whereby particular Con-- gregarious are faid to be conftituted. but the whole body. The Churches conftituted by particular Covenants are a!cerable,di- vilible, exdnguiftiible ( as M. Norton confefleth, p. 30. ) which this is not: they are many and particular Covenants, this one and general • they are accidental, hdniane,arbitrary,and fuper- adled ; this effcntial,divine,neccffary,and prime. And though this Covenant may feem but to belong to the Church as En~ drive, yet the Laws which arealfoone vifible fyfteme, argue it to beorganical, becaufe they relate to Officers anddifeipline: and they bind all not onely vi materia , but as proceeding from the fame fountain and authour, the King of the whole Church, hoc qua particular members 9 but qua members o£< the whole. Fourthly, it appears by the general right of communion s • S 3 that Every Minifter is a Mtnifter, that all the members have habitually and indefinitely 10 join in, as providence offereth opportunity , though not caft into a Congregational combination, as all cannot be. Any viiibk be¬ liever under the Teal of Baptifm onely, hath an inherent right to worfhip with any other vifibleChriftians in conteflion , petiti¬ on, thankfgiving, and praife; and to prophecy with them in the ApolUes fenfe, L e. join with them in partaking of thacOr¬ dinance, to fing with them, and receive the Lords Supper with them, and to be entreated by any Minifttr as an Ambafladour of Chrift to be reconciled, 2 Cor, $. 20. and is bound to fubmic to the doftrinal admonitions and reproofs of anyMinifier ac¬ cording to the word: and the reafon why any Minifter may not pafie a judicial ccnfurealio, if there be caufe(feeing the keys are coramenfurable ) is not becaufe he wants habitual power in difeipline, as well asdo&rine, but becaufe that is to be per¬ formed in a Court of Eldeis, and a ftrange Minifter wants a call to join with any fuch Court, to bring his habitual power into a&: yet our brethren will non-communion, or deny com¬ munion with a ftranger,if t hey have any thing againft him which is virtually a fufpenlion of him ; yea, if they have notpoiitive aflursneeby teftimony (not of his being in the general Cove*» nanr, for that is requifite, but) of his being a fixed member of fome other Congregation which they approve of, not onely for having the eflentials of a Church, but as a pure Church: for upon that ground they deny the Communion to f me members of our Churches that go over with certificates (though not to members of their own Churches ) becaufe they judge us as im¬ pure. Indeed certificates are requifite from ftrangers, to notifie their general right by being in the general Covenant, and to no. dfie their perfonal innocency from errour or fcandal which might debar them* But they onely declare a right, they give none: neither doth their right proceed from the memberfhip of the particular Con¬ gregation from whence they come, but from the general, which Is implied in their particular memberdiip , becaufe Congregati¬ ons confift onely offuch^andthey are witnefles of his godly con* Verfaticn, behaving lived with them. As for judicial, Ecclefiaftieal cenfures, I confeffe it is moft or¬ derly to the Church-Catholic!^ vifihle* derly to turn the accufed perfon, and his accufations to his own Congregation, where an Eldcrihip hath taken the parti¬ cular infpeftion of him, and have power in attu fecundo alieady called forth to deal with him: but fuppofe they will not, or negleft it, or he will not return, but abide ftill in another placej or fuppofe he be not a fixed member in any Congregation,but a Wandring ftar, and yet is a baptized perfon, and is very fcanda- lous,or.very erroneous,aid fitto infeft theperfons among whom he converfeth ; fhall there be no remedy for that Congregation > For ought! know, they may put their general), habituall power into aft, and upon fufficicnt witnefle proceed againft him, and finding him obfiinate may excommunicate him 3 as well as a civil Officer will keep the kings peace in his own Town, by clapping an unruly, riotous,or traitcrous itranger by the heels^if he take him within his limits. Fifthly, I might argue alfo from the oppofition of thcadver- fiaries of the Church, both Satan and perfecutcurs, whoop= pole it not eflentially only, but politcally5 their fpite being againft the Officers and Organs of the Church, not only qua ChriftianSjbut qua Minifters, not qua Minifters of this or chat particular Congregation, but qutnhz Minifters of the Church, and not only as difpenfer6 of Word and Sacraments, but as dif-^ penfers of cenfures efpecially, for they do mod ufually gaul men and move their anger. They iook upon the Church as one body, and upon Minifters as Officers of the Church in a general confi- deration, and fo may we. Sixthly, it appears by the indefinitenefs of the office of Mini- fters .• w hich 1 refirved for the laft, becaufe 1 fhall dilate a little more upon it then c he former. And indeed upon this hinge hang- cth ihe whole qutfticn of heOrganicalintegrality of cheChUrch Catholic k vilible. And turn the queftion which way you will, it will reft on this center, viz,. Whether a Minifter be a Minifter to any but his own Congregation I e i findM. Ellis affirming that a Minifter is an Officer cnely to his own Congregation, viud. p + 8* And the anfwer of th* Elders of feveral Churches in New-Englandj\t\x.o 9.pofkions,p.8.Thei-r words are thefc, “ If you mean by Minifterial aft, fuch an aft of “ authority and power in difpenfing of Gods Ordinances as a 45 Minifter Ever y Minifter is a Minifter “ M inifter doth per form to the Church, w hereunto tie is called to Chap* 6 . a b e a Minifter, then we deny that he can io perform any Mini- 46 fteriall aft to any other Church but his own, because his office u extends no further then his call* So M. Befi in his Church-pie a,p, 30. faith,Officers of Churches -may be helpfull to other Churches as Chriltians, but not as Mi- nifters. To the fame purpofe M. Bartlet in his Model p.69. Here-, by it appears they fuppofe the Ordination of a Mmitter to his of¬ fice, is limited to the particular Congegation that call him. In¬ deed the call of the people exens or calls forth the exercifeof his office unto them in particular conftantly, but his Ordination to his office is more gtnerall, and give; h him habitual power inattu •primo 3 to txercifeandperfoim theafts belonging to his office elf« where upon a call. Chriftgiveth the office, and hath annexed power of difpenfing his Ordinances.the Presbytery minifterially admit this or that man into it, not as a Presby teiy of that par¬ ticular Congregation,for they may none of them belong unto it, but as a Presbytery of ChriftsMinifters having a call to give that Ordination in a regular way : and the particular Congregati¬ on, by defire and eleftion give a call to the exercife of this power among them,pro he & nunc . 4C Habit u & poteftate omnes Epifcopi fmt Epifcopi cu'ufvis in at be c< vel par acid ., velprovtneidy quia in quavu aptifunt fioabiles, dr ido - °nei exercere Epifcopalia fua munera quando iliac legitime vocantur, * i ac mittuntur . Attu vero & quoad leg-1imam excrcitiumjbifolum - u modo Epifcopi funt ubi per mtjfionem & vocationem tllam mediates “ Deifkc. huic illive Par acidic, pr a ficiuntur % Crnktnthorp' Def. Eccl. Ang, c. 28. Now that a Minifter is a Minifter and fo habitually in office to more then his own Congregation , and therefore indefinite¬ ly to all the whole Church, will appear by thefe proofs. Firft, becaufe the donation of the keys, andthe inftitution and com- miflion of the Evangelicall Miniftery was in reference to the whole. Go teach all Nations, and baptize them. When as yet there was nodiftinftion of Congregations. God jst fome in the Church, firft Apoftles, fiecondanly Prophets, thirdly Teachers, 1 Cor» 12. 28. So Eph. 4.12. As God gave the Levites to the whole houfe of Jfrael , and they to the Churcb-Catbolickjjijible, C hcy did at firft in the wilderneife ferve all the l nbts CjujunCtim,? as one body ol Officers over one combined large Congregation, 5 * but afterwards when the Tribes were difperfed in Canasn, the Levite* were diTperftd among all the Tribes, and txercii'ed their office of teaching and judging in the feverall places where they dwelt 5 yet this diverted them not of their general! habitual! pow¬ er, this made not their office to ftand in relation to the particu¬ lar city or Synagogue where they did conltantly exercife: and when they removed from place to place, as the wandring Ltvice, jW. 17.8, did, they ftill retained their habitual! office and pow¬ er, and needed no new conftcration, but by vertue of their office did exercife the a&s belonging to it where they had their parti¬ cular ftation and call. So is it with the Evangd/call Miniftejy ofrheNewTefta- ment : aMinifter of the Golpel bears a double relation, one to the Church-Catholick indefinitely, another to that particu° lar Congregation over which h^is fit for the conftant exercife of his office. And if he removes to another pLce, he needs no new Ordination, for that continued! and abideth rtill upon him 5 it being to the eflfence of his office, and notin reference cither to the place from whence he comctb, or to which he goeth only. A Phyiitian or Lawyer needeth no new licenfe, or call to the Bar, though they remove to other places, and have other patients and clients. The Juftice of peace who is in com- million for the whole County, though he exercifed it in one part of the County, while he Jived there, yet if he removes to the other end of the County, he needeth no new commiffion to execute his officethere, where he never did before, bccaufe it was habitual to the whole County, though a&ually exercifed where he lived $ (o though a Minifter removes, he needeth n© new Ordination, but a new call to the exercife of his office there, no more then a private Chriftian by removing into ano¬ ther Congregation, needeth a new Baptifm ; bccaufe neither Ordination nor Baptifm Hand in relation to the particular Con- gi egation, but the Church-Catholick. As he that is admitted a frec-man in any Hall of any Company in London , is admitted a free-man ol the whole City, as well as of that Company: and he that by reafon of his birth hath right tobebaptifed many T Congregation Every Minister is a Adimffer l 140 Chap. 6 . Congregation, is admitted a number of ihe whole fociety of the Ghurch-Catholick vifible, as well as of that Congregation : fo he that isoidained a Minifter as by the occafion of the call of a particular Cong egation, heisordainsu their particular Minifter, fo alfo is he ordained a Minifter or Chrift and the Go- fpel, and Church in gsncrall. 44 Ordination (fatth M . Rutber- te ford ) maketh a man a Paftor under thrift formally and el- “ftntially, the peoples confent and choice do not make him g it concretely, according to thediverjcircumftances ©f tvino fo pjfores font. Epifcopus item unufquifque par• 4< ticularis fu<£ Ecclefo pa for eft , non qua Epifcopus fed qua Ro~ “ nums s to the Cburcb-Catbolickyifible. 1 4 _ _ __ a — j-- _ - • cc Romanus , out Alexmdnnw E r ifcoput , me jure Divine q n a cs pd bumano Jolum , & Ecchfiafiico , pattor fie efi. Cu+a cm - * a mum ovium 3 qua Epifcopi funt , ad omnes fie ft at , faith &*/- maf, “ Frater peculiar em car am quam finguli babent paStores fit j- » ecclefarum, genet alemetiam quadantenus habere cenfendi u pint univerfilis Ecclefia in bit rebut quead falutem & homm c< omnium Eccltfiarum cedunt, &pparat.2 yo. For, faith he, as in the natural body, the particular members have a double of¬ fice, one general and common for the defence and fervice of the wholcbody, and another fpecial and proper ; fpeciale ae proprinm-y fo it is in the Church. It was the comendation of Atbanafius by Bafil in Ep. 72. Tantam gerit omnium Ecclcfi - arum cur am , quant am ejus qua tibi peculiar iter a Domino tradi - ta tft. Secondly. It appears by the fubjeft matter whereabout the $ office of theMiniftery isexcrcifed, viz 3 the Ordinances ofGod, the Word and Sacrament, andP>aierj the good news of the Gofpel, the profers, proniffs and precepts, which equally per¬ tain to all parts of the Church Catholick. Therefore thejr fun¬ ction is fee ouc indefinitely, in reference unto the fubjeft matter ofif, and not the people to whom they difpenfe them. A Mi- nilierisan Arr6afiadour of Jefus ChriG, and is in office habi¬ tually to the whole Church : a? d though he be fet tolielciger in a particular Church, yet the fubjcCt of his office reacheth to the whole Church, and not that place onely; yea,to all that are capable of reconciliation, for the MiniGry is the MiniGry of reconciliation; and even when he delivereth his Embaffage in his owne Church,he is to deliver both profers,promifes and pre¬ cepts indefinitely to Grangers of other Congregations, yea, of forreign nations, if they come into his Congregation. Suppofc a Major of a Corporation fficuld fend abroad his Serjeants to fummon the whole Corporation to a great Court, and for expediency fhould fend one into one Greet,,another into ano¬ ther, a third into a third Greet: if any of thefe IScrjeants in their walks fhould meet a free-man that dwclleth in another Greet, ©ujffic he to forbear to fummon him, becaufe he dwels not in his particular walk, feeing he is an indefinite Officer to the whole T 2 ' Cor- 142 Every Minister is a Mimtttr Chap, 6, Corporation, or is that fummons without authority, becaufe the man dwels out of his particular limits, feting the bulineffe con- cernsall? Surely no, he ought to exert his general, habitual power of his office, and fumnion hi n. So feeing Gods me/Jage is general to all, though the Minifters ( who are indefinite Offi¬ cers ) be fettled in particular Congregations for expediency, yet they have power by vertue of their office to deliver it to any Chriftian that God offers them an opportunity to preach unto. Itis unrcafonable, that feeing the mtffage is indefinite, and concerns all in general, the commiffun to driver it ftnuld be put particular. But I (hall touch upon this in the fecond quell ion. Thirdly, It appears by the end of the Minifterial fun&ion , viz, to encreafe and edifie the bady of Chrift, not onely the in- vilible body but the vifible alfo, by convening fuch as do not as yet believe the Gofpel. And this was a great part of the work of the Minifters in the primitive times: but how could they baptize thofe they had converted, when the Apoftbs and Evangelifts were dead, if they had power to b ipt>2? onely their own members ? And this work, as there is occafi >n offered, li- eth on Minifters ftili; for the office of the Appoftles and Evan- geliffs is ceafed, and yet many remain ftiil out of the Church* Indeed while the Churches of New-England conftiture Churches of members already bapdz;d, this difficulty appears not; but iftheycome to convert natives* how (hall they be bipt z d but by an Officer of the Church-Catholick > for they are mem¬ bers of no Congregation , either they muft admit them mem¬ bers of their own Congregation, and then bapt'ze them as their members, as I perceive their prafticeis, Or which pra¬ ctice we find no precept or precedent or intimation inSai- pture, or elfc b.ipt’;2? them Into the Church'Cathcl’ck, ani then admit them members of their particular Congregations 5 and yet that will not ftand csith this opinion : or elfe they aiult grant them liberty to gather into a Crimen Entitive ( as fume call it) andfio mike them capable of chooli.g Officers, arndof bring a political body btfoi e they be bapeiz d; but neither will this ftand with oui brethren? principles , butfhould this latter be granted, who fhajl ordain a Paftor over them f.bhali unbap- to the Church-Cat ho. tck^ viJtbie. tizcd pertons Jay on their hands on them? Sec more of this, &2.S.2. Alto the feeding and edifying of the body already convert¬ ed, requires that this power of the minifterial fun&ion ffiould be indefinite, for the Minifter of any particular Congregation through fickneffe or abfence, or the like occafions, may riot be able to afFoid fuffident fpiritual food to his own people, nei¬ ther Word,Sacraments, nordifeipiine, withotft the help offi.»- gle fellow-iaboures, or a combined, claflical Eiderfiiip* What fhail become of a Congregation in the intervals between the death of a former Pallor and the ele&ion of another ? or who (hall ordain him if be be elefted ? feeing all Officers of all par¬ ticular Congregations in the world, are but as private men to them, by this opinion. The end of the Minifierial fun&ion is threefold, to convert into the viable Church, to convert into the invifible Cnurch, and to edifie fuch as are converted. N jw this opinion cuts the two former ends quite off? for they fuppofe them both vffibly and invifibly converted, before they think them fit matter for a Church, and fo before ad million into a particular Congrega¬ tion, and then reffrain the Minifters office onely to the particu¬ lar Congregation fo conllituted, fo that his work is onc-ly toe** difie and govern fuch as are fuppofed to be truly godly, and train up their children* And by confcquence it muff follow, that all converfion muff 6e by men out of office, or at leiff as fo confidmd. But Fro. 9. 3, Wifdom fends out her maidens to call in thole chat are without, viz. the fimple and that wane uuderftanding. T he Miniffei s by vertue of their office may ex¬ hort and entreat and fummon in, to fubmit unto Chriff, iuch as refute and are unwilling,and fuch as agamft whom (the? con¬ tinuing pcrverie ) they are to ffiake off the duff off their feet, for a wimeflc again!! them. They are 7 rupzvV[/. preaching or adminifteWng the feal? there, upon a defire. And by excomunication they ejeft not onely out of their own, but cut of the whole. They alio can ke**p l**ftures in other Congregations frequently. If it be obfifted. That this is cccafionaily done, and a charitacive aft, and not an aft of of¬ fice. I anlwcr, indeed charity and neceflity may be the occafi- onofthe performance thereof pro hie&nmc } but that can¬ not enable them to do it, if their office did not give them right and power habitually thereunto, no more then to private Chri- ftians. It is obfervable what M. Ball in his Triall of the new Church - way faith, p. 80. “That to fuppofe a Minifter to beaMinifter to his own Congregation onely, and to none other fociety u ivhatfbever, or in what refptft foever, is contrary to the judge- cc ment and praftice of the univerfal Church, and tendethto “deftroy the unity of the Church, and that communion which cc the Church of God may and ought to have one with ano- * J ther* For if he be not a Minifter in other Churchef,then are i Cor m 4. 1. and though by particular alignment they difpenfe the Ordinances toa parti¬ cular company of Chrifts family, yet may not deny them te o- thers of the family that have the lame right thereto. They are fyirituall fathers , and do notonely beget their own people to Chrift minifterially, butftrangers alfo. They are Chrifts Jhep- beards , and are to negleft none of Chrifts ffieep, as opportu¬ nity is offered, though they have a particular charge of a fet 'flock. WhenM. Ellis preached before the Parlament, did he preach as a private Chrifiian, a gifted brother, or as a Minifter 1 Surely they fummoned him as a Minifter, and heard him as a Minifter l for they could have found many able Gentlemen members of Parlament, Lawyers or Citizens, who could have fpent an hour or two in prayer, andexpofitton,and exhortation, but they never fummoned any fuch to perform that work,. Or hacLthey fum- nioned him to have been a member of the Reverend Affembly , would he have afted there as a private man, or as a Minifter > Or do the diffenting brethren lit there as private men ? or keep Le- &ubi uttlitati Ecclefie €i providetur. Nam etfi finguli Ecclefiarum Eptfcopi habent fub fe ft Ecclefias quibus cur am vedentur impendtre , & nemo fuper a ’>enani a menfuram extendatur , t amen praponitur omnibus chat it as Ckrifli , It feems he accounted bis office habitually general, and though the order of the Church required him to keep within his own bounds ordinarily , yet neceffity, the profit of the Church , and the love of Ghrift, might draw forth the execution of his office further. He addeth further, u Non confiderandum quid fattt/m fit , fed V Every Minister is a Minister quo tempore^ & quo modo^ & in quibrn, & quare fattum Jit , i. e. if it be not done to make a fchifm in the Church,as he expreffeth 1 hinifelf afterward, peg^e feci quicquant ut Ecclefiam fcinderem . Aftewardshe adds, 44 Multi Epifcopi co:%munionis nofir a & p'ef- «■ by ter os in no fir d ordmaverunt Provincial — I fie cohort at us fium c« be at a memorial Philanem Epifcopum , & S m Theoprupum tit in < s Ec clef is Cypri , qua fix eta fe erant , ad me a autem paracia Eccle~ 44 fiam videbantur pertinere , or dinar ent presbyteros , & Chrtfii &-Eeriefis provider (tst. Epiph. Epift. ad Johan. Hierofol. quam Hieronymus latinam fecit- Ext at in Hieron. Ep« T • 2. & in Ep. Hieron., ad Panmachum. T. 2. Vide Barronium Anno Chrifii Sett. 42. &c. The univerlal paftoral care which lieth on all Biffiops as Bi- fliops, faith Crakenthorp , puts forth it ftlfboth in general Cain- cills, yea, and out of-Councils this univerfal care of the Church lyeth upon allMinifters that they provide for the fafety of the Church as much as lyeth in them, C: confulendofiortando^monendo^ 44 arguendo, increpando^fcripti s fimul & voce alios omnes infiruendo > 44 & cumyutl harefis nil a vel fcbifma in Ecclefia graffart caper it qve- a hit incendwmpublicum illud refi.inguendo , & ne lattus ferpatpro~ 44 videndo. Def. Eccl. Angl> c. 28. Sixthly, There will follow diverfe great absurdities, if the of¬ fice of a Minifter ftands cnly in relation to his own Congrrgati* on. For then he cannot preach any where as a Minifter but in his own Congregation, nor yet to any that come to his own Con¬ gregation occasionally, much lefs adminifter the feals of the Co¬ venant to them, though they come never fo well approved by te- ftimonials, or by their own knowledge of them, which yet hath been the ancient cuftom of the Church, and is praftifed ffill a- mpng our brethren in Nerv^EngUnd^ by virtue of communion of Churches, as they fay; but this being an aft of office, cannot be done except there be an habituall, indefinite power of the mini- ficrial office which by this defire of firangers and their teftime¬ nial, is drawn forth into aft. Alfo hereby a Miniller is rendred but as a private Chriftiar to all the Chriftian world except his own Congregation, anc if his Congregation be any way diffolved, he is butaprivat* mw again. AUq the cenfure of excommunication which hail bees to the Church-Catholick ^ vijible. been inflided by fuch Officers in fuch a Congregation can ne- 9 « ver be taken off by any other Officers in any other Gongrega- e * tion after the diflolution of that, for no Congregation can re¬ ceive an excommunicated perfon to be a member before abfo- Iution, and abfolve him they cannot, becaufe he is none of their members; Ejufdem efi ligare & [oh ere : yea, and if he be wrong¬ ed by cenfures in any particular Congregation, no Church in the world can relieve him, except there be an indefinite, babi- tuall power of Office, which by fuch occafions can be drawn forth into ad. It maketh way alio for any private man to preach publickly if he be able, for Minifters themielves, by this opinion, fhoutd preach but as private men, if they preach out of their own Congregation- Alfo it neceffarily implycth that tt Minifter cannot remove from his particular Congregation, though for the great advantage of the Church, unlefs he will diveft himfelf of his former Ordination ( which was in refe¬ rence only to his particular Congregation, by this opinion ) -and take a new Ordination to his Minifterial Office again, as it hee had never been ordained before. And all ading in Coun- xills muft be the adings in private Chriftians. And all the Le- ftures that are kept by neighbour-Minifters in combination, or iingly (except by the particular Minifters of that Congrega¬ tion where theLedureis kept) are performed by private men, for fo (by this opinion ) they are to all the world, except their own Congregations. And fo if any of their own members com and hear them preach at any fuchLedure#, Faneralls, Marria¬ ges, or Baptizings, it is authoritative pre aching indeed to them, becaufe of their particular relation to him, but onely a charita- tive exercifing of gifts, as a private man out of office to allmen elfe. , • . And if this opinion be true, what ffiall becom of all the un¬ fixed vifible Chriftians in New-Eng(and ? who by reafon of their unrefolvednefle, where yet to fix their civill habitations, or of fcrupulofity,or Want of ability, utterance, and boldneffe, to expreffe themielves fo as to obtain an admiffion into a par¬ ticular Congregation, or haply thongh vifible Chriftians under the feal of the Covenant, yet have not the inward true work of grace in them, yet are neither ignorant nor fcandalous, but V 2 v live *5? Every Minifler is a Mine# er , &c. livt inotfenfively, and willing to join in and fubroit unto all Orfp. Gods Ordinances: I fay, what fhall become of them and their Teed ? Shall they all be left without the Church in Satan* vifible kingdom, becaufe they are no particular members, and there is no extenfion of the Minifierial office beyond the particular Con» gregations ? 8» Objejf every Minifter be a Minifter of the Church Catholick vifible, then what do they differ from Apofties and Evangelifts, for that wag their efpeciail priviledge that their commiflion ex¬ pended it fclf to all Churches? This Objection M* Bartlet hath . in Model p.6cy, jinfw. There is this difference; Every Minifter hath by his Ordination power in dtttt prime to adminifter the Ordinances of i God in all the Churches ot the Saints, yet not in • aftt* fccundo without a lpecialcall. But the Apofties and Evangelifts (, which Mjeizvicarii Avoftolorttne} hadboth .* and the Evangelifts pow¬ er was called forth by the Apofties, for they exercifed their fun- &ion where the Apofties appointed them* The Apofties received their office immediately from and by Chrift : The Evangelifts theirs from Chrift by the Apofties: ordinary Minifterstheirs from Chrift indeed, but minifterially by the Presbytery. The A- poftles and Evangelifts were not fixed officers in any particular Congregation,. but itinerant from place to place ; ordinary Mi- nifters are fixed in their own Congregations, They ferved the Church-Catholick aftually where oever they became,and could draw forth the exercife of their offices without any mediate con- fent or call ot the particular Churches or places, but fo cannot particular ordinary Minifters. So that ordinary Minifters they are M inifters of the Church-Catholick, though not Cathclick Mini? 4 e!S dually. But ft Minifters be Minifters only in their particular Congregations*where they are fixed, and to which they were called by the Congregation ; I marvel that our bre¬ thren of the Congr gatioftal way here in England are fo defiroos to have itenerant Minifters to be lent into all parts of the land, that fhall be foftned to no particular Congregations? yea, and alfo to have gifted men, not orda ; nedat al! r to be fuffered to preach publicity andconftantly in Congrcgations^fcirely thefc ihsngs arsnot confiftent with their principle?* 'Ll . . ;« Of Combinations of particular Churches in G/affes, *5* Chap. Vlt. About Combinations of particular Congregations in Clajfcs 9 and of them in Synods* A Further queftion is about the combination of Congregati- J# , ons and Elderftaps in Claffes and Synods. For though it cannot be denyed but that particular Minifters in their particu¬ lar Congregation* do fervc the Church* Catholitk in their ad- mifliom, ejections,and other Ordinances,as preaching to, pray¬ ing with, and adminiftring Sacraments to members of other Churches,in their own meeting-hoofes, and upon occafion it* other meetingd»oufes*for the cafe is the famt, whether they com to him, or he go to them ; yet it may be doubted whether the Minifters and Elders may combine together^ and jointly exer- cife afts of government, And though this doth not neceffa- rily belong to my queftion, yet becaufe it hath forne reference to the integrality of theChurch*Gatholick,I (hall fpeak fomthing of Now there is a double Integrality of the Church*Catbolickt> the firftis Emitivc } whereby they are all bound together inahe vi- lible imbracing, profeflion of, and fubje&ion unto the vifible do- ftrlne, covenant, and Laws of Chrift, whereby they become Ghriftians in the generall, whereby allChriflians are bound as opportunity is offered, to perform Chriftian duties one to ano- the r r asFellow-members, ex officio char it at is generalist only by virtue of the moral law, bur by the Law of Chrift,and to Chrift as the King and head of his Church* As all dwelling within th« kingdom of £#£/Ware members of the Kingdom, and bound to carry themfclves as fubjefts to the governors and laws, and as fellow* fubje&s one to another, though they be fixed members ©f no Corporations nor Townlhips. And this integrality is ah Y! a.) s actual. The fecond is as it is organical by combination, as all the Counties and Corporations and Towns by combination make one kingdom; fo all the particular Chriftian Congregations, V3 “ Provinces I 152 _ Cbaf* 7. % Of Combinations, of Provinces and Kingdoms by combination make one Church- Catholick viiible under Chrift, and this is an habitual in¬ tegrality. Of this it is that Ames fpeaks , the Church- Cathoiick in regard of the cxternall ftate thereof, Per com- binationem habet fnam integralitatem y Am. med. li. x.ch. 53. fe£t. 18* There is likewife a double combination,one habitual, •where¬ by all Churches and Chriftians are united and habitually com¬ bined into one political Kingdom under Chrift, and are obliged to be mutually helpful one to another, as need requires, as be- -cometh fellow-fubje&s and fellow-members • fecondly, there is a&ual combination,whereby any particular Churches flhai a&u- ally agree, and fo unite together for mutuall help of each other, and for tranfa&ions ofbuhnefles of common concernment. And this is either a conftant combination of vicinities in a Claflis, be- caufe there will be conftant caufe $ or occasional and more fel- dom,asof a whole Province or Nation,and may be of the whole Church*Catholick,if eonvenible by their delegates. This latter combination i sfundamentum exercitii: by the former they have jusadrentyby this latter they nave jus tn re y to aft con]un£iim for the good of thofe Churches fo aftually combined. And of this fecond kinde of integrality and combination it is that we are now fpeaking, which neceffarily arifeth from the former, as the organical integrality of a Kingdom arifeth from the Entitive. For feeing all are fellow-fubje&s under the fame Soveraign and Laws, though they have particular Coun* ties. Corporations and Towns wherein they live, and a&ually enjoy conftantly the generaTpriviledges of fubjefts under the King and Laws, yet there will neceffarily refult a community and habituall integrality of the ^holeby co-ordinate combi¬ nation. The civill and Ecclcfiafticall combinations as they proceed from a parallel ground,^/'*,. fubje&ion to the fame Laws and Soveraign ( I mean refpettively ) fo they muft neceflarily run parallel in things that are general and effential to combination. Our,brethren make them run parallel in the two firft fteps, viz. in combining particular perfons into families, and particular families into Congregations of them that are •x dwel¬ lers particular Churches in Glajfes. i5 5 lers together in Tome vicinity, which is nothing elfe in Engliffi but Parifhioners , the Engiifh word conies of the greek. The^ ■ 2 Chriftians dwelling together made one Church at Jerufalem , Ephefus , Coriutby 8cc, by Eccleiiaftical combination, as well as . one city by civill combination rei’peftively. And 1 doubt not but if all the Inhabitants of any one Town in Neva-England were judged fit to be members of the Church, they would com¬ bine them as members of the Church in that Town, and that Town would give denomination to them all as the Church in or of fuch a Town* And feeing the fubjefts of Chrift’s £cckfiafti» call Kingdom run parallel further withthe fubjeftsofacivil Kingdom, they all being Chriftians, Why may notthecom¬ bination alfo run parallel, and the denomination be parallel for tranfaftion ofcommon Eccleliifticall affairs, as well as civiH, if prudence fo diftate it ? and the Churches in a hundred if they lie convenient, combine into a Glallis as well, as into a hundred for civil traqfaft'on ? And the Clafles into a Province as well as hundreds into a County or Shire ? and the Provinces into a na¬ tional Church as well as the Counties into a civil Kingdom? and feeing Chrifts Ecclefiaftical Kingdom reacheth over many Kingdoms, why may they not make one habituall Ghurch-Ca- tholick^as wel as many Kingdoms under the fame laws and head make one Empire ? The aftuality indeed may ceafe where the conftant or frequent community ofa&ing ceafeth,wheiher at the Congregation or Claffis where all the Officers are combined in frequent common afting, or at the Nationall Church where the civil community ceafeth, and fo they frequent occasi¬ on of common afting by delegates ceife, l determine nor, but the habituality ceafeth not in the whole Church-Gatholick vilible. 1 (hall firftfpeakof the combination of particular Congre- 2 gations into a Presbyteriall Church, commonly called for di- ftinftion fake a Claffis. That there may beacolledgeor body of Elders that can aft cori'unttim as well as divifim^a ppeafs from j Tim. 4, 14* where the Presbytery are Paid to lay their hands on Timothy , There is the name and thing, and their afting* con - junttim in Ordination, which was not the Presbytery of a fingle Ehurch, or at leaft not foconfidered in their Ordination- of an Evangelic 154 Of Combinations of Evangelift, an itinerant,universal, aftual officer under the Apo * Cbap»J> files. Our brethren alfo in New-England join the Eiders ot di¬ ver fe Congregations together in ordaining Elders for a new- erefted Congregation, and not only the ere&ing of new Con¬ gregations will require it neceiiartly, buc the {applying of other Congregations vacant by death, for there arc buc few Jongre- gations fo well fiored with preaching Presbyters, as can or¬ dain new ones, if one or two of them die. Alio we finde an Elderfhip afting together. Aft. 15 .ver. 6. The Apofiles and ILlders came together to conjlder of this mafter , Alto Afts j 1 . veri 30. and Afts 2 i,i8.Chrifi gave the keys to the Apofiles together. Mat, 28 ip. Go ye and teach and baptiz,e 9 &c. who though they received their extraordinary calling of Apoftlefiv'p for themfelvs onely, yet they received the minifieriall office for all fuccted- ing Miniftcrg, and we finde no other efpeciall donation of the keys } and this appears by the following words, £0 lam with you alway even to the end of the world ; which nuifi needs be meant of the fucceedingMinifters,for the Apofiles were not to laft to the end of the world, neither their perfons nor their office. There¬ fore as the Apofiles could from that donation exercife the keys rcon]t*nSlim& divifim in their extraordinary function,fo may the Presbyters exercHe theirs alio, and fome keys cannot be uied bat < 9 on]iiHEltfn y as in Ordination and difpenfiog cent ares: and if Riders of fevcral Congregations can aft together as Elders in Ordination ( even in New^England ) and in cenliires,mucli more then in a greater body. And if our brethren in New-Engl and dared admit private men to lay on their hands in ordination of their Minifters, doubtlefle they would appoint fome of their own private members to do it, that fo (according to their tenet) they might enjoy all Gods Ordinances independent¬ ly in their particular Congregations, and not admit of a forreign Officer to come and aft as an Officer among them. That divers Congregations may combine and make one Pres- fbyterial Church, appears by divers inftances in iheNew Teita- mem. The Congregations in Jerufalem are called one Church, Aft; 8 • 1. Aft, j 1 . 21. Aft. 15.4* The Congregations in Antiuch are called one Church Aft, 13.1, and Aft, si, 2 6. The Congre¬ gations particular Churches in C/aJfes, gations in Ephefus&re called one Church, Aft. 20, 17. Rev. 2.1. And the Congregations in Corinth mentioned in the plural number, 1 Cor. 14.34. are called one Church, 1 Cor. 1.3. and 2 Cor. 1.1. Now that there were feverall Congregations in each of thefe Cities appears, beeaufe there were in each of them fo great a multitude of believers, as that they could not meet together to partake of all Gods Ordinances, efpecially if we confider that they had no publick eminent buildings for meet- ing-houfes, but met privately kaI* %uqv Afts 2. 46 . in an up¬ per room, Aft. 1.13. and in thehoufeof Mary, Aft. 12.12.in the fchoolof !yrannus. Aft. 19. 9. in thehoufe of Aquila and Prif- cilla> 1 Cor. 16.19. in Paul's hired houfe at Rome , Aft, 28* 30.’ in the houfe of Nymphos^ Colof 4 4.15. &c. therefore called the Church in their houfes. And this manner of meeting continu¬ ed in the times of perfection in that age, and fome %ceed^ ing. Alfo it appears by the multitude ofChurch-Officers, Elder^ Prophets and Teachers that were in each of them, which could not bufie themfelvs in one Congregation, and fure they were not idle in thofe days. Alfo by the variety of languages, efpecially ac Jerufalem , Aft. 2. 5. 8- &c. See thefe and other arguments of this nature more fully explained, and more particularly proved and applied in Jus Div. part. 2. chap. 13. And if thefe Churches were fuch ( as in all rational probabili¬ ty they were ) then that pofition, That there are no other Eccle- fiafticall focieties inftituted by Chrift,but particular Congrega¬ tional Churches, will not hold good 5 and the Bafis of the Congregational way wil fail, and the partition wall that feem- eth thereby to be between them and the Presbyterians, muft fall down. And this unity of thefe Churches was net a fpiritual unity in regard of faving grace, for all the members had not that; nor in regard of judgment, belief, heart and way, for that was common to all the Chriftians in the world: but a political! union by an cfpecial Ecclefiafticall obligation together (though we find no mention of any explicit Covenant, as the confh- tuent form of the particular Churches} nor onely in regard of the adminiftration of Word, Sacraments and Prayer, for thefe X wer« Of Combination of i5i wO—i r . ^ were difperfed in their feveral Congregations, and could not ^ " * be jointly together in regard of their multitudes. Neither were they one in reference to the Apoflies general power and office onely,they being univerfal Pallors, for fo the univerfal Church over the whole world was one ; but in regard of the common Presbyterie whereby they were governed conftantly, and the ApofUes themlelvs being in thele feveral Churches did aft as co-Presbyters with their Elders, andlo they call themfelves Elders, i Pet. 5 1. and Job. 2. And though indeed it cannot be peremptorily affirmed } that thefe Presbyterial Churches had thsir feveral Elders fixed to their feveral Congregations j yet that ( as I conceive) varies not the queftion at all. And yet it is very probable that the Elders in thofc cities did divide thofecities between them , for particular teaching and infpe- ftion of manners , to avoid confufion, and for a better means of conversion and edification of the whole, that the members and others might the better know where they (hould be bapti¬ sed, taught and inftrufted (fofar 1 mean as the perfections and dangers of thofe times would permit) and yet for more weighty matters of ordination, excommunication, or confuting any herefies, or tranfaftingany bulineffeof general concerment they did meet together. Now that thefe feveral Presbyterial Churches had each of them a common Presbytery fet over them to govern in common, appears for JerufaUm, by AB. 1 1.27,30. and Ait. 15.2. and at Antioch , by /.B. 13. 1. 2,3. with AB. 15. 3 5 . and at Ephefm by AB. 20 17, 28. and at Corinth , 1 Cor, 1.12. and 1 Cor. 4-4 $♦ and 34,29 and at Philippi, Phil. 1.1. And not onely Scripture proves it in the praftice, but right reafon and neceflitie requires that there fhould be a combina¬ tion of particular Congregations, for the attaining the end for which government was appointed, both becaufe there are ma¬ ny things that jointly concern many particular Congregations 5 and therefore it is fit they fhould be tranfafted in common : as alfo feme particular Congregations are too weak to perform’ fome things that may concern themfeivs, as probation and or¬ dination of their own Minifters, andeenfuring of:perfons of great external power, or civil dignity j the refolving of diffi- particular Churches tn Clajfes . cult concroverfie*, and cafes of confcience 5 the confuting ot fubtle and dangerous errors,and learned fubtle hereticks. There may alfo be through mens weaknefTe and corruption, male-ad- miniftration or prefumption thereof in a parricularCongregati - on, which without combination and appeal cannot be reme¬ died- There may alfo fall out a difference between the Congre¬ gation and their particular Presbytery , and then who fhali de¬ cide it ? yea, the very Presbytery in a Congregation may differ, and be equally divided among themfelves, and who (hall de¬ cide that difference ? There may be fome great difference be¬ tween one Congregations and another Congregation, and they being equal in authority as Congregations are, Par inParem von habet mperium^ who then (hall end thefe differences, if both be refolute, and will not yield each to other, or to the advice, counfel and perfwafion of neighbour-Churches ? T hererore ic is neceflary that there be an authoritative con joy ned Piesbytery, wherein the whole hath power to regulate the parts; the grea¬ ter part of the body to heal and help the lefie, either in keep¬ ing them from divifion, or to cure them of divifions, when they are rifen. . , Somtime again many neighbour Congregations are icanda- lized by fome notorious evil breaking out in one Congregati¬ on , or their members indangered by the evill example of fom perfoms dwelling in one of the neighbour Congregations, and having recourfe unto,and converfe with the members of the reft, and haply that Congregation cannot, will not, or do not cenfure that offendour .• fhall there be no means to bring him to cenfure, and afford a remedy for the reft? Some hetetick may indanger the members of diverfe Congregations, and yet live but in one, and that one not able ( haply ) to grapple with him; or haply he be a fixed member of none ( as may eanly fall out, efpecially if Churches confifted only of gathered members, as fome would have them ) or one that (hifteth up and down to avoid Congregational cenfure, how (hall he be dealt withall, without combination of Churches > # Sometimes the offendor or fcandalous perion is a member of one Congregation, and the witneffes live in two or three neighbour Congregations,how (hall this mans caufe be broug c Of Combinations of * 5 $ >■ — to trial? The Elders of that Congregation where the accufed C bap. 7. p er f on dwelleth, cannot authoritatively fend for witneffes out of another, and if they will come voluntarily, they cannot ( by our Laws) fafeiy adminifter an oath unto them: neither can the Elders where the witnelles dwell, fend for the accuftd per- fon authoritatively, nor cenfurc him if hewiilcome volunta¬ rily. And yet many fuch like cafes may, and will fall out. If all civill caufes were confined to die trial of the chief men In thefeverall Parishes, we ffould foon fnde the difficulty, difa- bility, mifchjef,andirnpoffibility thereof, and the cafe is the fame for Eccleliafticall caufes, for ought I know, iC There is no way (faith M. Rutherford') to reduce or judge fcandalous, ct diffenting Elders without there be a combination * for they t( > will not cenfure themfeives , and the people cannot. Peaeeabi cc Plea . 15*1. But (faith he) the fpirits of the Prophets mull thorny, are but as a company oi private Chriftians met toge¬ ther to advife one with another how to aft in their own Con¬ gregations, where onely (faith he) they are ir» office: it may be an aft of thofe that are in office, but not as Officers S fo that 121 that aft they are to be considered as private members, who by fuch conmltation take or give private advice how to aft as offi¬ cers, where they are Officers. Which is no otherwiie then it in thefe times of trouble and danger, a company ot peti-con- ftables (hould meet occalionally, or by appointment together at a market-town, and there confult together how to aft mo.t commodioufly and uniformly in their feveral Pariffies, m the preffing of Souldiers, or gathering Affeffments : or a compa¬ ny of Mayors of feveral Corporations fhouid meet by appoint¬ ment at London , and there advife together, how to ord^r 1 teir feveral Corporations* So that a Synod whether X 3 ^ 0 3 160 Of Combinations of Chip 7 National , or Oecumenical , can have no power to fummon any berttick or fcandalous perfon, and if any fuch fhculd volunta¬ rily come before them 5 or be brought before them by the ci¬ vil Magiftrate, that fficuld before their faces blafpheme the whole c Irinity But as the fubjeft matters that Synods have to deal with are ci - of three forts, fo their power and theaftsof it which they put I a forth are of three forts likewife. Firft,they are to aft in refe¬ rence to matters of faith,e. doftrines to be believed and im- braced, and of divine worffiip, e. duties of worfhip to be per¬ formed unto God .* not to coin or frame, or adde any new articles of faith, ornewafts of worfhip, or alter any that God hath inftituted ; but to explain, prove and apply thofe Articles of faith,and rules of worfhip laid down in the Word,and to con¬ fute and declare againft the contrary errours, herefies, and cor¬ ruptions; and the power they exert herein is called 'dogmati¬ cally Secondly, they are to aft in reference to externall order andpolity in matters prudemiall and circumftantialJ, which are determinable by the true light of nature, right, reafon, and generall rule* in the Scripture: to fet things in order, that all things particular Churches in Synods, 10, things may be done uniformly, decently, and in order; andthe ~ power they exert herein is called dtatattical. Thirdly, they arc Se ^' 4 * to aft in reference to errour,herelie,fchifm,oblHnacy, contempt and fcandal, and to repreffe them,and to cenfure inch perfons as are guilty of any of them,and are referred over to them : and the power they exert herein is called critical . This is none other power then the particular Eiderlhipsin their icveral Congregations or Clalfes may exert in their fphere and piecinft?, with fubmiflion to the fuperiour Aflemblies, and all rnuft be according to the Word of God. As in the natural body God hath fet leveral fenfes to aft upon the feveral fenlible objects vihble, audible, taftile, Sec. and feveral faculties in re- feience to truth and falffiood,good and evil, to difeern and em¬ brace the one, and avoid the other : So in the the body Ecclefi* affical hath he fet feveral powers in the organs thereof to aft di- vtrfly, according to the occurrent objefts and incidents in the Church, both in the particular Congregations for the good of them, and in greater parts of the body for the good of them,and in the whole ifconvenible,for the good of that: but becaufe re¬ mote parts cannot meet perfonally and generally in all their Officers, therefore that trouble and confulion is avoided by de¬ legation of particular elefted choice officer?, and is but occalio- Daily, and pro tempore. A ground and pattern of a Synod is laiddown, 1 6 which is acknowledged to be a Synod, and warrant for a Synod by reverend M. Cotton in his Keys of the Kingdom ofheaven^ ch And is called an Oecumenical Council by C banner in Van fir at, 1 om*2 . hi\io. cap .8. fed;,* 2« and PKhitak: cont. qd. 6 . • Andgene- i ajly by our Proteftaht Divines, And is abundantly proved and explained by the London Miniftersin their Jm.Divirtwn^ par. 2. - chap. 14. and 15. to which I refer the reader for fatisfaftion* The occafion of that Synod was an errour broached at- tioch^ and ndghbour-Churches, to enforce the obfervation of the ceremonial Law by all Chriftians, and this was promoted by lying, as if they were fent by the Apoftles and Elders at Je~ mfalem to preach this doftrine. Hereby the Churches were much troubled, and in danger to bee fubverted in their fouls« This could not be fuppre/Ted by the difputes of Barnabas and Panic 162 Of Combination of v*..i. - a*- aiders of Antioch decreed and ordained ("«r«g«r) that Paul and Barnabas^ and fome others, ffiould go up to the Apoftles and Elders at Jerufalem about this queftion. and they fubmitted to this order, there was an authoritative million, and probably members were alfo fent from Syria and Cilicia , for they were involved in the fame danger, by the fameperfons, AB. 15.23,24.4.$. But if there were delegates but from two Churches, it will juftifie delegates from ten or twenty. And as the Church oi Antioch did not fend Paul and Bar¬ nabas as extraordinary and infallible and authentical Oracles of God,asM.CWfl/znoteth, lor then what need the advice and help of Elders that were below them, being but ordinary and particular Officers of Jerufalem > But as wile and holy guides of the Church, who might not only relieve them by fome wife counfel and holy order, but alfo fet a precedent to fucceeding ages, how errours and dilfentions in Churches might be remo¬ ved and healed* And with Paul and Barnabas they Joynedo- thers mejfengers in the fame commiffion. So when this Synod was met, the Apoftles a&ed not by their Apoftolical, infalible, tranfccndent power, or by immediate infpiration, as in the pen¬ ning of the Scripture ; but the matters were carried on in an ordinary Synodal way by difputes and difcourfes, they delibe¬ rated about the true ftate of the queftion, and the reftiedy there¬ of, and after deliberation and difputes, they decilively conclude and determine the matter, and put forth all the three fore-na¬ med powers. Firft, they exert their dagmattck, power in confu¬ ting of the herefie, and in vindication of the truth ®f juftifi- cation by faith, without the works of the law.* and their cri¬ tical power in branding the falfe teachers with the infamous brand of troublers of the Church, and fubverters of fouls, and of.belyers of the Apoftles and Elders of Jerufalem : and their dtatattickjpovjzt in ordering and framing pra&icall rules or con- ftitutions for the healing of the fcandal. They palled 7* xiKfi^a AB. 16. 4. they impofed them,for they are faid canliOefy AB* 15. ?8‘ 29. yet were not all the things they impofed nc- ceflary in themfelves,as abftaining from things ftrangled and from blood ; they are called neceflary mtwtrinfecally y for then they particular Churches in Synods. they are Co to us but for that time, becaufe thole things were (o « odious to the Jews, who could not be fo fuddenly brought from Se &* ^ . all ceremonies. It is true ourDivlnes in their writings againft the Papifts do erydown the infallibility of Gouncelis, and the over-high *- ftefcm they had of them, and the injurious and finfull decree of their Popilh Councils, but they honour thegenerall Councels and account Synods an Ordinance of God. Cah. Intt. lib. 1 cap, 9. [eft. 13. faith. c< Noscerte libenter eoncedimus, fiqua de dog' * mate incidat difceptatio, nullum effi nec melius nec certius remedium , U qu&m fi verofum Epifcoporum Synodus conveniat , uhi controverfum dogma excutiatur. Multo enim plus ponder is habebit ejujmodi de- * C [initio in quam commumter Ecclefiarum pafiores, invocato CbriJH t( Spirit u, confenferint, quam, &c. Wbhak* de eenfiliis cap. 2. not only alloweth but commend* eth Synods and Councells from the neceflicy and utility of them, and marvelleth that Nazianzen fhould fay he never faw a good end of a Synod, alledging the good end and profit of the Coun¬ cell of Nice* And citcth Angufiine in Ep. ii8» Conciliorwnin Ecolejza Dei faluberrimam autboritatem effi. And addeth fur¬ ther, Etji Concilia non funt fimpliciter & abfolute necejjaria tamen mu It urn confer unt , & valdc ut Hi a funt, tdque propter mul~ tas csufas. And then reckons up the caufes. And divideth Synods in r ovtKets & iiKxdb! W. And bringeth Aft f .15 .for an example and warrant of them. And Chamier in his Panfir at. tom. 2. lib. 10, oap. 8. Ve omni¬ um toto orbe Ecclefiarum politia, fheweth the lawfulneffc and ufe of Synods . And lib. 3. faith, Ad Synodos convocatos fuijfe atquc admijfos omnes Epificopos nemo dubitat, fediffeque judices, fuojure , prout fieri filet in Arifocratia . And M. Parker in Polit. EccL l. 3. p. 35 3. faith, Fundatur baeprogreffio a Presbyterio adClaffem 9 aClajfi ad Synodtm, in inftituto CbriUi y Mat. 18. 1 7. exproporti- one. And p. 123. he foundeth them upon the fame Scripture,Per gradationem ratiocinandi : a little after he faith they follow from that place, perfiquelamratiocinandi y & per confeqnentiam. In¬ numerable might be the citations of Proteilant P'Nrnes in this kind. Ir is confeft, that particul ar Churches are endued with the Sefl. 5, Y power Of Combinations of power of dicipline within themfelves,if the matter doth particu* 7 * larly and peculiarly concern themfelves, and none others; or if there be no others that can joyn with them, they may do much alone, but that cafe is extraordinary* It is confeft alfo that every fingle Congregation is equal in power to any other fingle Congregation,conhdered as a Church, onely one may be greater and purer then another, and fumifhed with more and more able officers* And therefore how one lifter Church by icfingle power can non-communion another, that is of equal power with it, I know not, for it is a cenfure, and no lefJe then a vertual excomunication'. and the other Church hath as much power to non-communion them, and fo there is a principle laid of perpetual and fre quent divilion, and fpiitting a funder of Chrifts political body and kingdom. Such a piinciple in a Common-wealth between Town and Town in civil affairs would be very dangerous,and bring deadly feuds and civil wars, and at laft r nine to the whole. And though there be a fubordination of particular Churches to greater Affemblies, y et it is not abfolute and arbitrary, but in the Lord : alfo it is a coordination, becaufe the Officers of the particular Congregations are there, and help to conftitute the Clajfis, or if it be a Synod they are vertually thereby their dele¬ gates or Commiffioners, as the Counties and Corporations are in a Parlamenr. The fubordination of particular Congregations to greater AiTemblies, confiding Toot members taken cut of the particu¬ lar Congregations, and the authoritative power and Ecclefia- ftical junfdiftion of thofe greater Affemblies over them ap¬ pears, becaufe wee fee the Church of Antioch was fubordinate to the Alfo Chritt's direftion to deal wi h an offending brother. Mat. 18. afcends by degrees from private admonition to admonition before two or three, and from them if he amend not, to the Church s but what if the greater number of a Church : or fuppofe a whole Church of¬ fend ? by ftie fame rule of proportion they are to be brought before a hinder Affenably,elfe no remedy can be had for offend¬ ing Congregations, as well as offending perfons. But neighbour- Congtegatioi « or particular perfons may be offended by a neigh- particular Gburches in Synods . c hour Church, and there is no reafon that that Church (hould be parteeand judge alfo in their own cafe; and therefore it is re- quifite that there (hould be a greater combined Aflembly to com¬ plain unto* And as the unity of the whol vifible Church and political Kingdom of Chrift requires this , as the London-Mini fors have well noted , wherein all things are to be managed as between members and fellow-fubje&s, and the greater part in coordina¬ tion to rule the lefle in the Lord, and the whole the parts: fo alfo there is the fame necefficy of Synods as of Glaffical com# binations, and otherwife there will be irremediable difficul¬ ties. Alfo we may obferve the like fubordination and appeals in the Jewifli Church: the feveral Synagogues were fubordinate to the great Aflembly at Jerufalem , and had their appeals thr* iher in greater caufcSjLW.iy.8,12. 2 Chron. 19. 8. u. Exo* 18. 32,26. And this could not be a ceremonial Law, for it did cy« pifie nothing. The appeals were not to the high Prieft, typify¬ ing Chrift, but to their higheft Court; and though it were ju¬ dicial to them, yet the equity of it remains, and fo far as it was grounded on common tight it is moral. Now the like difpv cultiesand dangers that occalioned that Law then, remain fUll as great among us, and ever will. And it is obfervable that this thing was not learned by Mofet in the pattern (hewed him in the Mount, but was taught by the light of nature to Jethro , and by him was given in advice to Mofes> Exo. 18.22. and af¬ terwards was approved by God , as beeing according to right reafon, and a thing common to all fociedes as fociedes, not Ec- clefiaftical onely, and not a pofitive Law onely, but di&ated by the light of nature, right reafon and necefficy, and therefore is pra&ifed in all ages, nations, armies and fociedes, though noc in every particular circumftance. And therefore except it were forbidden,or Lome other way inftituted to avoid thofe difficul¬ ties and dangers that will arife, it ought to be in ufc alfo in the Church undei the Gofpel, as well as fummoning, convening in fitting dmes and places, and a modcratour or chair-man, and filcnce, obedience and refpeft, and due order in proceedings ac¬ cording to allegation and probation, which are things com- Y 2 mon Sea. 5 . Divers Objections anfoered* mon to all Judicatories, as Judicatories. And furely God would 7• not have Chriftians under the Gofpel under a more grie¬ vous yoke, and irremediable inconveniences then the Jew* ifh Church , that if any of them be opprtfled by the Igno¬ rance , or ill will of their Eiders , they {hall have no re** lief. u. Ob j. If there be appeals from one Presbytery to another that is higher, then muft there be two kffides of Presbyteries, and two kinds of Presbyters j but the Scripture (peaks but of one, and giveth no rules for any Presbyteries, but one. Indeed in Univer- fities the fame men may be heads of the Colleges re{pe&ively,and heads of the llniverlitie alfo ; but there are differing and diftin- guilhing names, relations, and Statutes; but it is not fo for El¬ ders of particular Congregations to be Elders of Claffes and £y** nods, & c. Anfa, The Church is but one vifible, political Kingdom of Chrift, made up by the colfe&ion and aggregation of all vilible belcevers, who are called into an unity of Covenant, and laws, and way : and all the Minifters and Officers of the Church are given to the whole primarily, for the gathering and edifying of it, and they are all to teach and rule, and performe ail their adminiftraticns refpe&ively, with reference to , and the beft advantage of the whole. And they did ferve the whole as one aftually when they were convenible, but their number encrea- fing they divided into feveral companies, for their better or¬ dering , edification and encreafe: and therefore the inftanee is not parallel, for the office of the Minifters is firft to the whole, and the Charter and Statutes of the whole and every pirti- cular Church are but one: and therefore the Minifters though they ordinarily a£f in their particular Congregations, as it were in their particular Colleges, being called by them to take the immediate, conftant, particular infpe&ion of them, yet can they exercife their general office when and whercfoever they have a call thereunto. Now this cal! is not that which gtveth them their officf,but hpreximumfundamentum exercitij only. Neither is the particular Congregation the adequate correlate to an Elder, for it doth notmutnoponere & toller e, but the Church*Catholick only. But of this fee more in the 2 * queftion. S • 4» Divers Objections anfaered. \ i But againft this M, ESis vind. 40. brings an Objeftion which he u(hers in with a Let it be obferved by ati forts , C{ By this tc means (faith he ) the'power being given not to any one Indeed the meaneft: Prieft might offer facrifice, which the King could not do, but this was no difparagement to the Nobles^or to the&i«g. No more then it is to them that the meaneft Pbyjician may adminifter phyfick virtute effieij , and the meaneit Pilot guide the Ship, which the greateft Princes may not doe. The office and power and honour that belong thereto is of an¬ other kind, then Parlaments and Kings , it is not civil but fpi- ritual. You know Gods Miniftcrs have power to baptize Par - lament men , 'Nobles and Kings , and their children, and to give them the Lords Supper, and to teach, admonifh, reprove, and from God to threaten and denounce judgments againftthem, even eternal deftruftion, if they goe on in finful courfes. They do do&rinally bind and loofe Princes, and their whole King¬ doms, and the whole world, as occafton ferveth. and can any man fay that the greateft men are by their greatneffe free from Church-cenfures, if they be net Drioufliy vile 1 and yet none can impofe them but Ecclefiaftical Officers. Suppofe divers Parla- ment men or Noble men, yea, a King himfelfc were members of a Congregaional Independent Church, would not the Of¬ ficers of that Congregation account it their duty toadmini- fter all Gods Ordinances to them, as occafion requires, yea, the Ordinances of difeipline and cenfures , if there be juft caufe ? Sir, would you now be willing to have a retortion of your own kind with a Let it be obferved by all forts , that by the In¬ dependent way power is given to 2. or 3. Officers in a Congre¬ gation ( or as others of them fay,if the particular Congregation joyn ) to cerafure, yea,excommunicate Parlament men , Nobles and Kings fii they judge there be caufe, and all the Churches in the world fhali have no power to relieve them,except that Congre¬ gation, or thofe Elders pl'eafe. 4C It makes ( faith Ellis ) every Minifter one of the fland- ing Officers of the Chriftian world , to whom with his col- • Ji. And the Churches formerly have agreed unto, honoured, andlubmitted untoC'un- cilr and received much good by them ; efpecully general Council of *4 kc And indeed the choice and fen- ding of members to make up Synods, is more thena taene agre ment to them, as well as the choice of Parlamcnt meni W a virtual agreement, and promife of fubmilfion to the Parla- mt okaim. But if the Miniftert be Pallors to the whole Church, then the whole is to honour them,and contribute towards the irStli. 8, maintenance, becaufe they ferve the whole, ordinarily in their own Congregations, and occafionally by preac g in Claffes and Synods, for it is due from them that are taught jinfw. That all men are bound to honour all the Minuter* for their office and works fake, is true; though they cannot a- ftually apply and give teftimonies of that honour, buttolucR as they know. But for maintenance, the people over whom the Mimftcrhath the particular infpeftion, and among whom hee doth affiduoufly labour, are ordinarily to afford it, being tne perfons that a&ually partake of his continual! labours, an is the moft convenient way of certain and fpeedy railing o 1 5 the Levites had maintenance from the feverall places where they dwelt, both cities and gleabs, and other comings in. Micah giveth a ftipend to Jonathan the Levtle , ms diet ana apparell, Jndg. 17*10. It is like the Elders of maintained by the Church of Jernfalent, but whether^it wa colle&ed in the particular meeting*houfes for fuch as bour there particularly, or put into one flock for the nancc Z 2 17 4 Chap. 7. ! t 1 Dherfe Ob]eUions anftvcrcd • nance oi then whole E!dcrlhip,l know not. But (uppofe one able man will maintain a Minifter for the whole Congregation, or a Le&urer or M'nifter in another Congregation, or the State (hall maintain a Minifter in a Gon- gt egation, is that Congregation bound to afford him a fecond honourable maintenance > Or ftippofe a Combination of Mini* fters having fufficient maintenance from their feveiall Congre¬ gations wiil join together, and maintain a Lc&ure freely, may not the people hear them,becaufe they do not maintain them 1 1 fear you will finde but few Congregations will make that fcruple. Ob\. But the Minifter* perform not their whole office to the Congregation that maintains ihenr,but part of it to the ClaJJis , and part to the Provincial or National Churches, and part to the Catholick Church. Affjvp. A particular Elderffiip perform their whole office to their own Congregation, which con cerneth their Congregati¬ on only, as far as they are able. Butin fome things theparticu- lar Congregation (lands in need of the help of other Elders, as in male-adminiftration, and matters of more weight5 and th?re be matters of more general concernment then can be tranfa&ed in one (ingle Hide, (hip, and other Congregations likewifemay ftand in need of the help of their Elderffiip in the like cafes: and fo the partitular Congregation is not hindred but helped by combination. And even in their greater Presbyteries they ferve their own Congregations alfo, as well as in their own Congre¬ gations they ferve the Church-Catholick,in admitting members in, and calling them out that are fcandalous, and in feeding, nourifhing, and governing the members thereof, in their own Congregations. Ob. Rut this will be too great a burthen for Minifters to med¬ dle in the affairs of many Congregations,, who will have work enough in their own. As they (hall afford help to others, fo they ffiall receive help for their own Congregation from others with whom they are combintd. But what greater burthen will it be to do it in an authoritative way,more then in a ehaiitative 1 andyet that ouc brethren will allow. Objett, Diverfe ObeEltons anfwered • «7f Bat then the Minifters cxercile rule where they 5,#, ^ do not ordinarily preach, and fo thekeys are not commen- fUra ^l/w. The keys are commenfurable, though the cxcrafc^of them be not always commenfurable. Neither a 1« bound always to put forth the exercife of every ^7 » ^ he puts forth one. A man may preach where headmini * no Sacraments. Veml preached much at c ° YW * h J \ not bound to baptize there: though no ou c ^ himfelf many, yet he baptized but few, 1 Csr. i- ' preached much, but baptized not, John 4. *• £ . j t cdtoCW/^and his company , but baptized the is faid he commanded them to be baptized. And the Apo files ufually carried about with them a Minifter to bap ^ whom they converted; as (hall be (hewed morem ^ A roan m ay adminifter Sacraments where he P'' 40 * 16 * as the Apoftles baptised, but Chrift only he that baptized Cormlitu and his company, did not preacn ,0 them, but Peter only preached. We read not that the **™ or Minifter, which Paul and Barmlat carried about with them, di A P Mb’fter may both preach and adminift, he rules not, As thMp to the Emnchfbt AP°® 1 “ iou * in Chriftstime and Minifters that preach abroad m a jouin y, ° r Alfo a'Mr may rule where he neither preache,h nor a^ miniftreth any Sac aments •forall the Eldemp/er^ruled In common; but preached and adnmitfredS * * 2rc c a tion houfe to honfe, and conld not preach ev ? „ did exr whom they ruled. Alfo the Elders at Jerufa em-, • ^ ^ treife difcipline in making dec. ecs for Antioch, Syria, (ia, V, here thev preached not* th* Objection 1 hi* formerly was a grand °bj« a, °J\ § " h d Bifhops; that they undertook to rule where they pr SV#. 9 . The exceptions againfi the Biftioys, they or m^ft of them arrogated th*i po*er (elves 7j2 - 1 j^6 Divers Objections anfpeered. (elves upon a wrong ground, vh,. not as Presbyters, but as men C»^>. 7* q £ a fuperiour order and office, viz,. offreingBifhops,and fo above Presbyters even Paftors of Paftors. Secondly, They chal¬ lenged that to be due to one that belonged to a Colledge or Elderfhip,or combination of Elders. Thirdly, they robb’d the people and Paftors of their liberty and power: for they did • not afTociate Congregations with them,but fubduedthem unto them* They were not mutually fubjeft to Presbyteries,but made the Presbyteries fubjeft to themfelves. They did not carry things in way of confociation and confederacy as inter Pares , but as Lords both of Minifters and people. They took the whole Di- ocefs to be their aftual cure, and all Minifters were but their Curates. They forced men to bring in prefentments to them and their delegates, which concerned the particular Congre¬ gations onely, and ought and might have been tranfafted there. But it was not for extreifing an aft of dilcipline meer- ly where they did not preach, but becaufe it was not on a right ground, nor in a right way. See thefe things noted by the Aflembly in their anfwer to their diflenting brethren ii* Objection. If there be fuperiour and more generall AfTemblies, and appeals unto them, then great and ftubborn perfons will snever be brought to cenfure, for they will appeal higher and ^higher, even to a general Council, which haply will not convene in their life time* Anfw. The Officers of the particular Congregation have pow¬ er to inflift the cenfure, if they find juft caufe, and that cenftire remaineth on them, nowithftanding their appeal, untill their caufe be heard in a greater Aflembly, and if it then be found to be juft, they confirm it, and leave it upon them, if unjuft, they ought to relieve them* ObjeCl. If appeals be admitted to greater Aflemblies,as Pro* vinciall. National!, and much more Occumenicall Councils, it will occafion much trouble and charge to.tbe party grieved, and to the witnefles and profecutors to go fo far to bring their caufcs to triall. This Objcftion or to this purpofeM. £//«\ma- aketh, vind.p-16. jtnfa That may he prevented by ftating the queftipn in difle- habeat pot eft Mem is qui abjettus eft ut Epifcopos finitimos interpellet , Cone* Sai d. Can. 17 *&c. So alfo it is in effeft granted by the Apologias themielves, Apol . Nar. p. 21 • dion he bids me mhidc, vin . p. 5 6* I fuppofe he meant the Obje- ftton, in rtlereuce to the National Oath and Covenant againft Arch-bHhops, Bilhops, &c. Anfrr* Although Councels are very reverend and tobefu6« mittcduntoin the l ord, y?t are they not infallible, but may ene; they are not regttla regularity but regulata & regulanda a and to be tried by the word of God, andiftfeuy fpeak not ac¬ cording to that, they are not to be obeyed Clavis mans non ligat. Yet it is fafer to be gu ded by a multitude of Counfellors in a great, yea, general Alfembly, if it were rightly gathered, f which the Popilh Councels were not) then to hand bouiid by two or there Elder* in a particular Congregation without relief. The dottrine of that famous Counctl of N/c*,and fomc other* following, was found, and we have not departed from them therein. And we know, that although many Councels were corrupt and not rightly chofen, nor a&ing uprightly according to the word, but guided by fa&ions, and fwayed by the Pope, and the beft not infallible,yet the Scriptures are a conftart, in¬ fallible rule to walk by. Nec ego Nicenam Sjnodum tibi , nee tu mibi Ariminenjem debes , tanquam prajudicaturus , objicere, Nec ego bujtis autboritate , nee tu illius detimis. Augull adverf* Maxim in • lib. 3* io« A a CHAP, Ihe (taring of tb>z §{ueJHon redijied. Chap. VIII ffrations againfi an univerftH viftbie ( and as he cal's ic ^ go¬ verning ( but IhouJd have (aid G< gunicall ) Church. And bis urong fatirg oj the question rectified. R Ellis hath fee down divers juft prejudices (as he calls IV Sthem ) and ftrong probabilities ( vind. ch.3.pag. 10. ) and Dcmonltiations ( vind, ch, 4. p. i So that by iheir tenet 8t their right to Gods Ordinances neither arileth from their being in the general C jvenant, for fo they were before their confede¬ ration, nor yet from their orgintcalnefs,for they have power to organize themfclves, and disannul thofe Orgins again, & to per¬ form fome Church-aft^ before and without Organs btr it aiifeth meerly from iheir particular covenant and confederation. much Jeflihfewofthem alunderi which is the way our brethren now prattle. V M, r J o* s' * * '•' Hcie hegranteth what is contended for, if (he whole were couvenable, s. e. ( as 1 conceive > ail the Officers of the whole Church. But it that could be, 1 d ubt he holds they mud either aa as men out of office, or a, pardcular OiSc.rs, e JyS « ence to his paritcu ar Congregation ! of can their convene nor" hT^V PU a 3 gc ,"' rail office upon them whiebthty had not belore? or draw forth genetaliaaio.cs that concern the who e ? buUf n!i "° habi!UlM powtr reaching the bee! he the officers met toget her fan t nie the vvlo'e whv ha ,l”' y ^Wicuar Congregation Bath fe-Officers there’ o!r 1 ?" > 3 V *‘ C thtreof cun ' , 't« d > power to ru'e that rhi n f«fogthe right and reafon is the fame, feel,. e the Church isahmiUr body in re^rd ; *, lf! & deceimiinuon., and that by divine riohr r' L nanc ^ Cf posvcf . properly foriAciH u t thou ^ h fl0t wirfc •J^sssssiasss gfiy * •. *- i their lUV S3 ,foS. TirT y d °% :luir » • whofe charge feverally and jointly the whole, and every pai t of the Kingdom is committed - y by authority whereof, and dcpen- dance upon which common Officers, the Officers of every parti¬ cular Town do aft > Betides, this dating of the queftion is not confirm with it fell, forit makes theGhurch-Catholick the firll lubjeftofall Church-power, and then makes the Minifters and Elders the proper fubjeft thereof: but the proper lubjeft is the prime fub- jeft. Unit Be he means in a logicall iinle, as fight is predicated ot the whole man, and yet is feated properly in the eye: or reafon is given to the whole mm, and yet is feated in the un- derftanding* Chrift hath given all his Ordinances to his vifible Church, for the publick difpenfation of which he hath infti- tuted Church-Officers, to whom he hath committed that pow¬ er refpeftively : thefe Officers are diftributed among, and fet- ledin their fevcrall Congregations, and there aftually and con- ftanrly difpenfe thefe Ordinances to them,as by their office they are inabitd,according to the Word } and yet bccaufe there are fom thing? of common concernment with otherCong-egations, and of greater moment and difficulty then can be tranfafted by a few Elders in a particular Congregation, therefore uponfuch occafionfrthey may aft con jun£hm y w 11 h the Elders of other Con¬ gregations , and may alfo difpenfe both word and feals occafio- snally to other Congregation*,- ipon a call by opportunity,want, or defire of other Congregations. Ye' do not the presby terianshold,that the particular Churches or Officers aft by authority of, and commiffion from the one intire, fingle Common-wealth, Corporation and Congregati¬ on of the vhole company of Chrifthns on earth, as MU tUis it plealed to fet it down, to render their tenets odious: but they hold that every Minifter by virtue of his office hath an imme¬ diate, habituall power from Chrift todilpeufe his Ordinances, but the conftant exerting and cxercifeof this power is called forth into aft by that parcell of the Chuich-Catholick , which hath gfven Him a call to take the particular immediate infpe- ffcion and care over them in the Lord, yet upon occafton for &hc honour of God, the vindicating of his truth, thefupprrf- 7 he (fating of the Qjieflion reUtfed. ling of more general! errours and fcandab, the propagating ofg^ the Gofptl, and the good of otheis as God gives cpportunity, it ! may be exerted and exercifcd in ocher places, and to other per- fon?,!o confufion and diforder be avoided. Neither do the Nationall Churches aft by commiflion from the Catholick, nor the Provincial! from the Nanonall, nor the Cladistro n the Provincial!, nor the Congregation al from theClallisj but every Mmillerafts by commiffion from Jefus Chrift, by virtue of his Office. And the Ccngrtgadonall Eiders Ihip is firllin afting, though lift in Chrifts intention, in inftitu- ting the office. Every drop of water J s hmdar to the whole ele¬ ment ,and is cold and moift,but receivs not thufe qualities from the wftole element, but hath them immediately in its felf, and though it aftually <. xerts them only where it is placed and appli¬ ed, yet hath an habitual) power to exert them any where eife, if applied: So the Chut chsOfficers have their power, neither from the Church-Catholick nor from their particular Congregation, but from their office,which they receive from Chrift(ihough mi- nifteriaiJy admitted thereto by the Presbytery) which power though ordinarily andconftantly they exert in their own Con¬ gregation, yet can elfewhere upon a call. Neither do the Presbyterians fay, that the Church-Catho- lick or the whole company of Chriftians on earth, are in their ordinary and fetled Church- conftitudon one intire,fingleCom- mon-wealth, Corporation and Congregation aftually, but one habituall Common-wealth and Corporation, made up by the aggregation of all the fingle, aftuall Congregations of Ghrifti- ans in the world ( as an Empire of all the Provinces and King¬ doms under it) and that befide the particular,aftuaJ,<:onftant aiv fairs oGhe Congregations, which are properly to be managed by fuch as are the particular aftuall Officers thereof, there are fome thing* that concern more thtn chemfelves, and thofe are tobetranlaftedfasfijchoccafionsarife'i by the Officers of fa> many Congregations as they concern, they belonging properly to the cognizance of Officers, as Officers: and if thofe matters bee of more generall concernment, then that ail the Officers concerned therein can meet, without comufion, to traniaft them, then they are to delegate fome choice Officers from the B b 2 leveral jpo I'Joe ftating of the Qu eft ion rectified. Chap. 8. feveral vicinities to traniaft them, as hath been ffiewed before : and as the call of the Congregation draweth forth the power of the Officers to aft among them conftantly, fo this delegation calls lorth their power to aft occafionally pro tempore in this greater meeting. The cafe was once that Totus mnndw in- gemuit fab Ariamjhto: this concerned the whole, or the great¬ er part, and could not be cured by particular Officers, as par¬ ticular, in their Everall Congregations diviftm , and therefore required a more gcnerall meeting of Officers ( to whom by reafon of their office it did appertain) to confider of it, and fup- prefle it conftnUint , by confutations and cenfures : and thefc having done the work they were called forth unto , then are to return to their particular charges again: for this work is butoccafionail, and thefe occafions fall out very rarely. This makes not the whole Church-Catholick under one aftuall con- ftanc regiment. Yet becauie in Churches that arc near together in a vicinity 7 , matters of common concernment, or that require the help of more Elders then one or two Congregations can afford, will frequently and conftantly occur, and if there be not a fet time and place appointed by confent for a certain number of Offi¬ cers of that vicinity to meet, they will bedrawn together with much difficulty, charge, labour, trouble, and confufion, and with lefle certainty (as appears by the cafe of M; Ward in the Nether lands, who being unjuftly caft out of his place, could not under two years get a meeting of ntighbour-Elders to hear and right his caufe, and when he had obtained a meeting, it was but of very few, viz,, the Elders of Arnheim , as I have been enformed) therefore it is conceived that there ffiould be a certain time and place appointed for the Elders of fuch a- v cinity as are in combination for mutuall affillance, to meet in. M. Ellis miftakes the ftate of the queftion^ in faying the Mi- snifters and Elders of the Catholick Church not taken feve- a rally but jointly, as one entire College or Presbytery, have the charge fcverally and jointly of the whole, and every par¬ ticular Church committed to them, vind. pag. 9. For they are not aftualJy Aiinifters arid Elders of the Church-Catholick, nor The fitting ofthe Ghteftion re Hi fed, nor actually one entire College and Presbytery, nor have not a- ^ ftually the charge of the whole and every particular Churcb 5 but * habitually onely> by reafon of the indefinitenefle of their office. They have powers aUupnmo by virtue of their office, but not in affu fecundo fiveexercito : they have ]hs adrem every where, but not in re any where without a call. They are the Minifters of Jefus Chrifl, and thereby have right and power to perform the atts belonging to their office, but for the execution of it 5 either in a particular Church conftantly 5 or c occafi- onally with others, there is required a call thereunto* And the notobfervingofthis diftinftion is the caufeofthis difference in this queftion. TheLevites wereby their office confecrated to do the fc/vice of the Tabernacle , and to fi and before the Con- grYgration to minificr unto them , Numb, 16.9, And the Priefts to offer facrifi :e: and both Prieffs and Levites were to be Teach¬ ers and Judges in Ifrael; and they had forty eight Cities with their fuburbs given unto them : but they might not at their plea- fure cxercile this power, and dwell where they lifted, and mini- fter in what they pleafed, or offer facrifice promifeuoufly when they lifted, or be Teachers and Judges where and when they lift¬ ed, but according to appointment and affignatior, and accor¬ ding to their courfe?,and as they had a call to cx:rt their power. So it is with the Miniffers of the Gofpell,They are vefted with an office to difpenft Gods Ordinances of worffiip and discipline, buc they may not execute this office , but as they have an efpe- ciall call thereunto , no more then require maintenance, which alfo belongs to their office, except from thofe that call them to cxercife their office among therm There are houfes and gleabs and maintenance allotted by the law of the land for the Miniftry, but every Minifter may not crave for himftlf where and what he pleafeth. The particular exerting of the office and reception of maintenance in and from particular Congregati¬ ons is no qua Minifter indefinitely and habitually t bmqva Roma* nusyAlexandrintu , f cndinenJis^Gippovicenfis, The whole Church in reference to Chrift the King thereof* is indet d an a&uall po¬ lity, but in reference to the ordinary Officers, whofe office though habitually it be indeffnitr,yet is a&ually drawn fordT into cxercife by a particular or fpedall call and evocation, it B b 3.. ’ may 1 92 Divers Prejudices , Probabilities , Chap* 8 * Sett, may be filled anhabituall policy. Now let us fee how M .Eiits’s Prejudices,Probabilities,and De- eionflrations will lye againft this babituall integrality of the ChurchCatholick viable, and agiinttthe habitualindefimtenels of the Minifters office* Firft, he objtð the novelty of this opinion- And indeed well hs may, as he bathftated it, for he was the firft that hatch¬ ed it in his own brains. But that the Church is one habitually, and that the particular Churches bear the relation of members to the whole, and offelluw-members one to another,and that Mi¬ nifters are Minifters beyond the limits of their part cularCongre- gations, and can upon occafion adminifter the Ordinances of God to more pci Tons then thole of their own Congregation au¬ thoritatively (upon which hinge hangeth the whole queftion ) this is no novel opinion. For the firft execution of the Evangelical, Minifterial office, in teaching and baptizing by johnBapiift, and by the Apollles before they had their general! commiliion, and the preaching of the feventy was without any refpeft to any particular Con¬ gregations, for there were none fee up. And when they were fet up, the Apoftles lend faithful! teachers to the leverall Churches whom they commended alio to them,exhorting them to receive, refpeft, and obey them j as Tymothy and ApoUos^i Cor. 16, 10, 11, 12. Phil. 2.19 23. And the many places whither Timothy and Titus travelled, and where they preached and ex rcifed their office,is abundantly fet down in the Scriptures,and gathered out by Smettymmus^od M. Prmne in hie unbilhoping oi Timothy and Titus. 1 he Apoftle alfb fent Tychicus a faithfull Minifterto the E- phe/ians^ Efhsf. 6-21. and under the fame notion of a faithfull Minifterhe fends himaifo to the ColoJftans^Colof 7- 8. as isfur- ther noted in the fecond queftn n. And left this Ihould be faid to be done as he was an Evingelift ( though we finde him not cXpreliy called an Evangelift ) yet it is clear that there were many that preached the Gofpel in the ApolUesdays in more places then one authoritatively. The brethren that John writes of in his third Epifi. went forth and were helpers to rhe truth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, were Minifteis which might have pretended Demon fra'tons an freer ed, 193 have taken maintenance, but mu noc,itiai they might Iprcau tat Golpel. It appears alto even by the faife Teachers that crept to Galatia and Corinthin Paul's abfence : and thofe that wenc from Jtrstfalem to Antioch and bred the broil there, and thole thtt pieachtd the Gofpeli of envie and ftrife,./ 3 ^/. i, 15. who certainly we t e noEvangelifts, neither do 1 allow of thtirfalfe do&rine^ytt it proveth that it was ordinary for Miniflers to preach to moje Congrtguions then one.And it is very probable thac thofedilperfed which wenr up and down preaching, AEh t 8, 4. were Ofecers, as one hath lately Ihewed .♦ for what ffiould the Apoftles do at Jerufalem if there were no private Chriftians there > and it is likely that the heat of the perlecution fell moft: upon the Officers,and therefore they were generally Scattered a- broad, except the Apoftles. And in the after ages of the Church there was nothing more frequent, then for Minifters to aft out of their own Congre¬ gations. Wee hnde indeed provifion made by Canons for the ordering of Minifters in the txercife of ch*ir funftion in other places then their own, but no prohibition to exclude them from it. As firft,that they muft have leave to do what they did.* which was a wife provilion againft fuch as creep into other Churches without a call. It was provided in Cone. Nic.Can, 17J Caranz>a. That no Biffiop ffiould ordain any that belong to ano® ther Biffiop, Cum non hob eat confenfum Epifcopi ipfius a quo re* cejjit clericus. And Conc> ConJHnop. Can. 2 fecundum Zonaram^ TO ( 5 ImGK.mt! VTti p t*Y) OTT (ZadveiV} 8cc . A TonVO- cati Epifcopt ultra Diocejim ne tranfeant ad ordinationem vel alicjuam aham adminifrationem Ecclefiajlicam « There is not taken away from them power of exerciffiig of any of thofe thingsin other Diocefes, when th.y were called by others to help therein. Null us Ep if cop us ex alia provincia an deat ad aliam tranfgredty (3‘ ad promouonevt mimferii alicjuos in Ecclefts or - dinar e , niji liter is rogatvu adveniat. Cone . Antioch , Can* 15, Caraxz,. Ntfi forte cum conjilio & volant ate regionis Epifcopi• Can. 22. Yea, the Council ot Sardtce provideth, that if a Biffiop in a Province where there have been more Bifhops, did negleft to o dain more B (hops, then might tie B ffiopsof the neigh¬ bouring Province (being deiired by the people of that Pro¬ vince}; 194 Divers Prejudices, Probabilities, and Cb P* 8 vince ) come ex viand protinci.i & erdinent Epifco/pumfZ onc.Sard. Can, 2 . fecund. Ilidor -fed Can. 5, fecund.Caranz. Secondly, Mo Biffiop ought to foiicitean Eccldiafticall Offi¬ cer of ar.otherDiocefe into his own,and ordain him ther e.Conc* SardJc. Can. 18. Caianz,* Thirdly, when Presbyters travelled abroad they could not be admitted to officiate Jiyj ey were abroad but none of thofc provifions cut them off from officiating abroad, only they regulate them in their carriage to prevent diforders. Many examples antiquity affords us of thedifpenfing of Ordi¬ nances of worffiip,^rdinationanddifcipline s beyondthe limitsof the Minifters own paaicularcharge. Pant anus cf Alexandria was famous this way, Tan turn fiudt] in Scriptura propaganda pefuiffe ferunt,ut praconem Evangehi Gentibus Or rentalib us, & Indis fefe conferret, Kn'? wv * \v%yyihiu ro/f «tt* ctrctlofiMf if tv {JLiygt iy 7»< 1 J\av rc-thd/jfaor yd'f. It is laid alfc, that there were many Evangelifts, and faithful! meflengers prepared to promt t’ and plant the heavenly Word after the guife of the Apoftles- Eufebdib .5, c 9 • 10 • Anicetus Bijhcp of Rome gezn\< d leave to Pcljcarpm Bijhop of Smyrna for the reverence that hee owed him, to adminifter the Lords Supper in his Church,^ bcuMsia nrpe^d p raty S Arl*> j- jQ-riib \vyjxpitiM? iu (lc^aWp Kxf J\n\9vhi*Eufeb. lib. < 5 . cap* 24* pretended Demonjlrationjy anjboered cap. 24. So kUcepborut relates,/. 4. ,ap- i9 . Ana the c'«»>, Ceotury 2. cap, io. 7 Anicetus i Pius, HjginuSy 7 eI*fpborur y and Xjflits Bi(k 2$S. Yea, the dividing of Diocefes (and the fame wee may fay of Parifhes which are the bounds of particular Congregation as but an humane prudential aft. And therefore in the Councel of Afr’ce, they pleaded no higher ground for it but Ados antiqttus ob- tinuit, 8tc, And in the Councel of Conftantinople confiding of 150# Bifhops it was forbidden by canon that Bifhops flh u!d leave their own Diocefe, and intermeddle with forreign Chur¬ ches, for until that cin e by reafon of the gr at heat and ftoren of perfecution it was ii.d fferently ufed. Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 3 . And what frequent ufe the Church anciently trade ofSy- nods and Councels,and how authoritatively they afted,M. Eliis cannot bee ignorant: whole Volumes tnigb bee written of this fubjeft. And therefore Reverend M. Cotton in Keys^ cap. 6» handling the queftion, Whether a Synod hath power ofOrdi- nation and excommunication, though his judgment feemeth to sucline to the negative, ye v faith, we will not take upon us haftr* ly, to cenfure the many not. ble pr cedents of ancient «md later Synods, who have put forth afts of power in both thefe kindest Therefore of ail arguments this of novelty might w 11 have been fpa red, and may molt jufiiy bee retorted upon the contrary opinion. FiveincordlfRntfrivqlous anfwtrs M. £//ir givtth againftthe antiquity of Synods. x. That this joint handling of things of common concern¬ ment fretijjJed Demon prat to -J, Mijftf^red. ment doth not conclude i,hem one C .ipuracion, no more then £ n the common Treaties of Nation* in thing* of joint concern* * mtnr. vind. p. io. Bat this common conrei hnientarolefi om the unity of the head, body, charter and Law*, and the nui- tuall ielation of members, and therefore that parallel hcldech not. 2. Saith he,this (it is certain) was at fome diitance of time,af¬ ter thedifcipline of the Churches were corrupt and declined to worldly policy, vind. p. i t. -dn\. Surely thi6isnoc foofall. For the ft ft convention, AS, I. about the inftalling of a new Apoftle, and that before the Church was divided into particular Churches, and for a thing that concerned the whole Church, a meet ng which vims ufuafly account a Synod, yea, agenerall Council, S* 1* CC2 "Divert Prejudices , Probabilities , BBe=a ® P ".' ' 1,1 1 . - ' 5 It was ( faith he ^ a voluntary affociacion, by right of fra “ • ternity, and not oneneffe of corporation s which appears by a bringing and confining in after times the power of Bifhops and Ministers to, and within Diocefes and Churches. hnf 4 Though it were voluntary, yet might it be neceflary and not arbitrary, as was (hewed before. The onenefle of Corpora¬ tion was not aftu&Il,but habitual .The aftringing of them by ca¬ non to avoid confufion, took not away their habituall power, for by leave they might aft any where, as hath been (hewed be¬ fore. But if they had not been endued with habituall power by office, their voluntary aflociation could not have en- abkd them to exm their power joyntly, when they were met* Let us now hear what witnefles he produceth againft the unity and integrality of the Church,and the habituall power of the Mi- nifteis beyond the limits of their Congregations,or their joint a- fting together as Minifters upon a call. Firft, CbrjfojtomeinSerm. i.dePafcb . faith $ The Sacrifice or Pafleover was to be eaten inonehoufe, and not to be convey d out, *. the houfe is one that hath Chrift; and the many houfii of the Hebrews have but onely one power, nature and condi¬ tion, as the Churches throughout the whole world, and in fi¬ ve rail Provinces, being many in number, are but t ne Church. But wherein doth he differ from the Presbyterians herein ? They grant the Churches are many in number divifim , and ye* make but one conjunftim habitually. But he is exprefly againft M EMt 3 for he grants Provinciall Churchesand that all the Churches throughout the whole world are one, and this muft be one integral!, for a Genus is not made by aggregation of Provinces. And all thefe though organized are fimilar parts ©f the whole, having but one onely power, nature and condi¬ tion. 3* Clemens Alcxandr. lib. 7. Strom ♦ There is abfolutely but one ancient and Catholick Church in the unity of one faith. And fay not the Presbyterians the fame alfo ? and it appears he held the Catholick Church to be an lmegrall,bcc*ufc he faith it is an¬ cient, but a Genus never groweth ancient. lit might have gone higher, for another Clmmt in his confti- tutiont, « Zffvetv*’£ £fanen fi.', wiU be ° f more credit, Umm velmi Jucin, “ 7Z:.:Z7t‘ mia Wh* quidem p,. “ f rt f z;TLzr u u i ^rr' o,m,i *•** *- ‘C y^ # J Ht altut all ° precept ere ac dttce uft And Cyprian, teftimony de whale Ecclefia it dircfl aeainft d h S’,t "I t:"- ri ° f ^eChi-ch by dofrinfand paZu^t'Ziitn'llZrirT ^ 0prick > ** fhoprick areutrh (h» r /^ u !* l,d “ m P* rs «*«*r. Now Bi- habitually W? h Chu f h t0 bc one politically (though bus <: right to the who?? ry * ^ ° g m filtdxn, have all a joint inPolit. Ecclef |I6 , P F °" wh ' C , h w L ori J ! of Cjpriaa M. Parkpr <* ;iL^LPiv in,erttce -. “4* « fi c TtcetjUunl h r 7 &E P PF'" ‘’fin&alh pari in *“>'*>' *"*#*» cgvJm muhorn*, '^ZdiZmlofluZd^jt^ ‘cyZ % ^ ci u,; s's^s “r» -‘rf ~«i . - — ’ - v &>itEcckfit ma /*»,, & unitil „ m ^ c 3 (t eonfii- <~C> Vivtn prejudices 3 Probabilistic and u conJpirahtej faciunt omnes Cathedra imam Ca.bedram. Ve Prim. ’ P‘g'%7' bale fa nomine, non tantwn una fed nutUorum unit a defignstur, Bernard in Cant, Serw 6l. Augufhtie inlraH. in Joh. 1. 14a is mcraagainft him then for Hm. And whereas he iaiih, uwverfa EccleJia ligat fAvitqve peccata. He cannot mean thereby that the Church is nily one in nature and kind , but not in number, because he ijpt. ks of Priefthood, and what one Minifter doth b ud is b ui d to all, fo that he violates ( faith he ) the rights oi holy Pr.elt* hood that joins nim to himieif that is cart out by another. Nei¬ ther doth Eucberius ( by his own relation, for I have not fe:n him) fay any ocher thing ehen the P.tsby-erians; in that hee faith the Church difperied throughout the whole world confift- eth in one and the fame faith, and fcllowih pof Catholick truth And whereas there is an innumerable multitude of the faith- full, yet they are rightly faid to have one heart, and one foul in refpeft of their iocisty ,and in the common faith and love. Foff he grants in thefc words an univerfall vifibleChmch, and that to be a lociety s now every lcciery of men is one exter¬ nal vifible integrals AndM. Ellis granteth that there doth flow an externall communion from the internail, and that the myfticall union doth imply an union vifioie alfo. vind. P a g- 34 * . His quotation out of the Councill of T rent might well have been fpared, for itcroffeth himfelf moft. Therein is conftft a generall Council, ai d that with autboriry, and ctse major pare co bind the reft. Indeed they contend that a Councill bindsth notthtabfent Churches which have no delegates there : and who faith the contrary ? But as thofe Chu chtswho had dele¬ gates there are concerned in their decrees/ fo they be agree¬ able to the word ) and that formally, becaufe they are their decrees: fofhould the Church-Catholic k if the whole had de¬ legates the/e. But this we gain by this quotation, thatagene- rall Council is conlcfTd by him to have dofirinall authority ; and are not the keys equally exteniible? Have they power to decide points of doftrine ( as is there confeft by M, Ellis') and not 'hap. 8 pretended Demon fir liions^ anfvcerrA not to exercifc dUcipline > who cue" one tiioacr chc A the other / It is granted alfo here,thac Couacds have to do with maftrrs of common right and joint concernment. And there¬ by thenectflicy of Synods and Councds will follow, ittinz there are things of common right to many Churches, and may bee toad. And this will necelJariiy require that they ihould bee furmlhed with authority to tranlaft thofe affaires of comm' n concernment, and that is as much as the Presbiterians contend for in the behalf of Synods. “ No State (faith hee) can take my wde from mee, or d.fpofe of my children in marriage: this is of peculiar right : fo in Churches. Anfa>. No more can the t.Iders of the particular Congregation, nor the civil Ofh, cers of the particular Town. But the civil Officers or State can diipofs of mens children and goods (according to Law) for the good and defence of the whole, noewithftanding a man’s preu- liar right, So the peculiar rights of perfonsand Congregations mult bee fubfervienc and give wav to the good of the whole, or the greater part. And though a matter cf a family ought not to yield up his tamily-government over wife, children and fervants, to rtde them in commcn with ether Matters of families, as M. A and M. S. note in their Def. p. i i o,yct if he abufe h ;S government over them, the wronged petfons either wife,children or lervants rt ^f v ^dby rhe Magiftrate, who yet hath no-coal!ant actual hand tn the family-government. And whereas hee faith,all ihe Cbrifthns in England would be loth tottar.d bound to the determine'ions of2. or 3. fen: in their names to a general CounceL I anfwer by retortion fo would a Congregation or our Nobility and Gentry bee loth to itand bound by the cenfures of two or three Elders in a oarti- cular Congregation without relief. But it is pretended by M, Ellis to bee new alfo relatively Ia reference to ^heProtettant Divines. Calvin is brought inhere, P I r j s true Calvin hhh^Inflit. lib. 4. cap. 1. fea. 3. Ad amplexundam Each ft £ unit at em nibil opus e(l Ece/eftam ipf a >n - scat ts cernere , vel manibus palp are, quin pntiui eo quod in fid* Jit * eft, Bu his meaning is, wee cannot dittinguilh the ek& iroiri tht reprobate by fenfe, referring ic to what heehadfpa- ■to Sea 32 Divers Trejudicet) Erobalities^ and 'bap 8 ken * n l ^ e f° rmer Seftiuu. Soli Deo per muter, da ejl cogmtio ' * ftt* Eccleji % t he trouble and charge of appeals, and the tryall of caufes by them that can have no perfona) knowledg of the caufe,or perfons to be tiled, but by information,hath been anfwercd before, chap. 7 fell. 9. His third prejudice is, that this opinion is Papal and Ami- protejlam. And to prove this he bringeth in BeHar mines deferi- ption of the Church Catholick.wc, That it is one vifible Church • “orCongregation of men bound together by the profeflion of etended Demonstrations^ answered ,. mits,and they are bound to meet, in their male* three times 3* yearly ; which pertain not to tht Evangelical! Church. But in- that one Church there were particular AfTemblies for ordinary WOfihip^ and extraordinary alfo, and for afts of government, and they had particular Officers, and Ecclefiafticall ru/es over them: and there were appeals referved to the great Council at Jerufalem , and fo it could not be a type of a Congregation nail Church 3 for there can be no appeals to that, it being the lo.vcft Church that caD be. The particular Synagogues were ra¬ ther Types of the Congregationall Churches, for they are cal* led by the fame rume, Jam. 2. 2* And the Minifters under the’ Gofpel are called by the fame na nes that the indefinite Officers’ of the Jewiffi Church were* viz,. Vrie/ts and Levncs , If a. 46 . 21. which place is fpokenof the time under the Gofpel. And* if it' be granted that, the Minifters of the Gofpel be given to the whole . Church.,as the Priefts and Levireg were indefinitely to the whole Church of the Jcwfjnotwithftanding any particular relation to the particular Synagogues and places they re(id»din,and tatighr, or judged in,it isas much as I contend for. And if by myfticail he meantth theelt ft only, or entitively only; it could not be a type of the Church-Catholick fo,for the Jewifti Church was Vi¬ able and organical. His fecc nd proof is from Mu*. j8. Tell the Churchy which' faith he,was a particular Congregation which was endued with entire power even to excommunication, Whatfoever jet (ball hinde. Stc. Anfn>. This was not the Inftitution, neither was there any donation cf the keys, but a fuppofal ofthekeysin the partr^ cular Churches, which is a thing confefled by all (and this power was alfo in the Jewifti Synagogues) • But this is not fpo- kenexcJufively, that this power is no where elfe; If‘the rulers of the Synagogue had power ro excommunicate (to which' it is like Chrift alluded in that fpeech ) then much more the Sanedrim ) or higheft Cour$: and fo 1 conceive it is in the Church of the NewTeftament: If the leaft combination of Elders have this power given them for matters that concern that Congre¬ gation only, then much morea greater company and combi¬ nation, for matters that concern a greater part ©f the Church D d 3 under. Diverfe Tre']ndices i "Probabilities t and under their combination, and for matters of greater moment ' then can be trjnfa&ed by the fmaller company. But the dona* tion of the keys was to the Apoftles together, and they were ge- nerallOfficers, and Ifood in relation to no particular Church* and therefore the keys come to the particular Congrega¬ tion or Miniftry there, as to parts of the whole company of Or¬ gans, yet immediately,and not by commiflion from any Catho* lickCourr. His third proof is^becaufe the firft execution of the greateft a£t ofintire power was exercifed in a particular Church, without confulting with the univerfaii Church ( though the Apoftles were then furviving) i Cor . 5. Anfw. For ought that 1 know the Church of Corinth was a Claflical Church, and not a meer Congregational one,for there were Churches in it, iCV. 14. 34. Befidesthc probability that Cenehrea was a member thereof. But Sir, who requires the con¬ fulting with the Church-Catholick in admitting or ejetting members? Or did the particular Synagogues confiilt with the Sanedrim , or the whole Church of the Jews when they ex¬ communicated any man ? Surely they had work enough to do then. His fourth proof or argument is, becaufe intire power was committed to particular men, viz,, the Apoftles fevcrally,and to all jointly,and therefore not to one vifible governing Church* vind. p. 23. Anfw. By this argument it appears, the power is given not to the Congregation, but to the Minifters, whofe reprefenta- civej the Apoftles were in receiving the keys, feverally and joint¬ ly, which is as much as the Presbyterians require, viz,, that the Minifters have power to exercife their ordinary power jointly together upon a call, as well as feverally in their particular Congregations, as the Apoftles did their extraordinary. Their receiving the keys together fignified cheir feprefentation of the Miniflers not multiplyedonely ( asM. Ellis would evade it ) but conjoyned. Hii fifth argument is from the reproofs given by Chrift to the (even feverall Churches in the Revelation , and not to the combi¬ nation of them, though neer one another# Jinf. 2Q yet it is real, as well as the four monarchies were real monarchies,and not in imaginatior.ronly and conceit. Hemight as well make ibehtad of the Church, and the Laws of the Church,and the Covenant of grace, and the feals of the Co¬ venant to be but imaginary and in conceit, as the Church-Ca- tholich, for they are the bonds of the unity,.and reall vilible bonds make not ah imaginary Integral, butareaU. And where ( I pray ) is this cnenefle denyed by the brethren,as you alledge. ®W,p.24.The inlargemenc and confirmation of argument, A non exiflenttk & ab impoffibilltate ix fiend:, have been anfwcrcd before, Cha, Sett, 10 A third foit ofargument he takes’from the form and nature of all bodies incorporate, which conlift in order of fuperiour and inferiour, &c. But Chrifts Kingd 3tn i« not to be regulated herein according to worldly polities ( a* himfelf alfoeifewherc in his vind t hath noted ) fo alfoChrifthath faid of the Officers of his Kingdom, that ir (hall not be fo among you. Mat. 2 0. 2 ( 5 . re. there lhallbe no fuperiority among you : and yet they were to be Officers ofabody, a kingdom , an Ecclefiaflicall polity. But this dif¬ ficulty is ealily falved, bccaufe though one particular Officer hath not power over another, yet the greater number in a« &uall confociation, or combination, hath over the lefle .• as it is iua Pari ament, or any meeting of the like nature, where all the member* are cquall divtfim , ftverally taken, y't the lefle number is ruled, yea, cenlurable by the greater, it there be caufe. Diverfeinconvenienceshe raiftth from htnee, As i>antceffa- iy exiftence in one place^ and why not at Rome ? 2, Confiant (lan¬ ding Off cers. To thefe hav^ been anfu ered before. 3. A common formjof faitb^dtfciplineyworfhip, and profeffion , agreed on and formally propounded and taken. I anfwer, Thefe are for the eifentialll one in ihe Church-Catholick, fet down in the word, and fo acknow¬ ledged pretended Demonfirations^ attlrvered. ledged often by himfelf, and they are fubmicted unto diviftt* « „ ,by the whole Church. 4. That allmuft atthy authority , and fry*-' 11 ' virtue of commiflion from the Church-Catholick , in the name of theChurcb-Catholick : and this the A Amors oi this opinion (faith he ) fay exprefly. I anfvver, k is a meer figment of his own b;ain> and a great injury to thofe he fallens it upon. And hence the fifth inconvenience ( viz. That the Magi* ftrate cannt reform within his own dominions , before hee hath authority derived from the Church-Catholic 4, either in a generall Council! , or from their Commitee ) falls to the ground. For as the Ercl^fiafticall Officers of particular Churches have power from Chr it, and not from a generall Councill, to reform their own Congr egations, if they be able : fo alfo the Magiftrace within his dominion?, i sCuttos utriufatabule, and hath a power circa facra, though not in facrij : not intrinfecally as a Church- Officer, yet extrinfecally as a nurfing father: aud fo the Kings of Judah had, without authority derived to them from the Sa - nidtin. But Ifhould think that this Inconvenience lighteth unavoi-’ dably upon fuch as derive the power of the Minifier from the people of a particular Congregation, and make them to aft as u K J*J’ va " ts ln their name, and according to their votes : for r • ur Congregation grow corrupt, they may caff ofFtheir faithfull Elders, but their Elders cannot reform them, if they be unwilling; and in a corrupt or inkftrd condition, whe- fcrrri €rr ° Ur ° r pro P hancnefre > the F wiIi not bee willing to re- The fixth inconvenience of a folemn meeting for the eleSion of hich generall Officers,is anfwered already C.7.&7. The inconvenience of meeting in a generall Councill by rea- fon of multitude, is faired by delegates rightly chofen. And the dim rence of languages is falved by learning. Thatwasno im< pediment in the Council of Nice, or any of the generall or large ^Th'u Ntlcb " a°‘r V h “ hind " Princ “ ( « himfelfcon- V™*? ) fr ° m onetnciof lhc ""Id to another, to hold mutual correlpon dency. SeB u. His fourth fort of arguments ( that fo he might feem to tetcn an argument from every caufe ) is from the end of the E e Authours 212 Divers Prejudices-) Probabilities* and Chap. 8. Authors of this opinion, Vmd. pag, 29. Either it is (faith hee) to found the right of Pres by teriai Government as is now en¬ deavoured, andtodeprive particular Churches of entire power inthemfelvr, oratleaft of Independency in their government from other Churches : of elfe to lay a groundwork of a more effe&ual cure and remedy then hitherto, for all diftempersof particu’ar Churches. Anf. The Presbyterial Government fpcihth not Congregati¬ ons of that due power which Chrift hath given them,bin helpeth and ftrengthens them in things of greater difficulty wherein they are too weak,8tregulateth male-admiriftraticns in the particular Congregation?, it ferveth for the tranfafting of bufinefs of com¬ mon concernment: it preferveth unity in the Church which is the body and family oi Chrift: it fupprefleth errours and here- Ties that aiife and fpread toth? infe&ing of more Congregat- ons thtn one, or which particular Congregations cannot lup- prefle. And as for abfolute independency, as it is difavow^d by M. Ellif) and (as hee faith) by the greatetl patrons oi that way in this Kingdom, and hevond the f as : f > that way which is pro¬ vided thereby for the curing of errour and fcandal, meedvby advice and fwafion, which u>av or may not bee followed ad libi- tumult is not a fufficient remedy againft obftinacy therein : and for theNcn-communion of Churches by filler-Churches with¬ out authority, I fear it will prove unwarrantable, and is a wr- tual though not formal cenfuring of them, though their equals ; and is a way not to cure Churches, but to caufc rents in the Church of Chrift, and confufion. Neither can this aflociating of Churches together open a wide gap to tyranny, as M, Ellis affirms, any more then aflociating of families into Congregations, where the irregularities and mif- carriages even in their particular houfesa e reproveable and cenfurable, is a fpoiling of families of their liberties, apd a ty¬ rannizing over them, The a&ual union of a Congregation, and the conftant, near infpeftion of the Officers over (he par icu- lar families, will more (in the eye of reafon) intrench upon fa¬ mily-liberties, and call »hem ofrner to cenfure, then the habitu¬ al Union of the whole body, or aflociation pf Churches remote, who jrtt'nied Demonjiratmfwered. who can when cue/ meet 'which is but feldorn) handle onely o « matters of joint concernment, and of prefumed male admini- “ ftration brought to them by coinplaintjC- n infringe the liberties of thofe Cong egations. And if the Church in general be a foci- ety to all -ts n embers, to which there Delong certain common rights and priviledgcs^ sfpiriiual food, the Word and Sacra¬ ments (as M, El/is confefieth) why not fpiricuai Phyfickalfo which is as necefiary . of other Kingdoms partake nouBuc Chriit hath fet 110 fuch feve- . tdUjpream,annomted ones over the feveral Churches, nor per- nutr^ t eicvcr&i. Churches to make any different laws t.- om his, nor from thoie laws wnich are common t© the whole Church. E e 2 And Divers Prejudices , Probabilities , and And the priviledges of the Church are common to all the mem¬ bers of the feverail Churches, and they have freedom; to com¬ municate together in the holy Ordinances, where-everthey dwell. F curthly, The Law of nature is given by God as an invifible Creatour, the Laws of the Church are given by Chrift, a God- man , as a Mediator. As he is God hee hath an eftenJaii right to be governour of angells and men > and all other creatures, but as Medrascur he hath a donative Kingdome ofg^ce, and is a polidcall head of aarxternall vifible Kingdome, whxh is but one. Fifthly, All mankind arc not emred into one body by one external inftituted iign, badge, enrowlment,and inidall fea!,nor are entred into one explicite, a&uall Covenant, nor make an ex- plicite, a&uall profelfion of fubjettion to the fame God^ or to the fame (yfteme of written Laws. And therefore that parallel which thefe two reverend Minifters M. Allen and M. Shepherd (whom I love and reverence much it? the Lord) endeavour to draw between mankind and the Oecumenicall Church in their Defence unto the nine queflions or poJitions 3 p # 79. will not fuit and agree in all things. 6 . Yetasall men are one fotiety, though they want Officers, as fuch, yet are they bound to combine, even from that inter- rail anion, to preferve themfelves, and maintain the Law of nature. Suppofe there were fome circumcelltones or fame c»njn~ rtrs that fought to deftroy mankind in gemrall, notbecaufe they are of this or that Kingdom, up ,»n fome particular qua r rel, but becaufe they are men : or that endeavoured to poyfon and infeft the air, or let in the fea to drown the earth, or take a v way the light of the Sun ( if fuch things were p flible ) or any kinds of wildc bcaft fhould multiply that would deftroy all mankinde j then all mankinde fetting afide their particular im¬ munities, combinations, Laws,, yea, and quarrelfs, ought and would unite themfelvcs ax men to preferve mankind, and op- pofe fuch common enemies of mankinde. Forreign Nations will, combine to vindicate Jus Gentium if it be violated. All Nation* combine againft Pirates , notwithftanding particular diftin&ion* and oppositions, yea, fo far as mens pofidve laws are generally pretended Deminftrationi^gnfrvered. 2 r 5 the civill Law reacheth far over many Kingdom?, it there be any o „ oppofttioas or obllruftions that hinder the cxercife thereof, for 6 * IX * common good ; all that fubmitchcmfelves thereunto would not- withftanding their particular diftinftions joyn together to remove the,fame. Much more then ought there toan union and combination between the feveral! parts of the Church, which hath the fame head and King over the whole, of our own nature, who hath given us one i)ftenae of written laws, and but one charter for the whole, and mads Officers for the good of the whole, en¬ duing them with an habitual power of office to adminifter all his Ordinances in any part of the Church upon a call. And if tiny could meet together, they might aftually teach and rule the whole Church, as one Congregation, as M. Etlh granteth : and bscaufethey cannot fo meet, yet by the famereafonif a great put of them meet together, the Elders fee over them may teach and rule them joyntly together, as well at feverally afunder. For the greater number of Churches being confide red as combined and confociated parts of the whole, bear the fame relation in a proportion to the lcfie,that the g- eater number in the fame Con • gregation do to the leffe : and therefore if the major partin the Congregational Elderlhip (hall over-rale the Idle by their votes, fo by prop :rcion (hall the greater number of any greater Pres- bytefy whether Claffical^.Trovincial^ or Najitnalj &c. beingin aft jal confociation and combination, over-rule the ldTe, if they diftent. But becaufe there are fo many fuperftitions, errours and here- fi<*s in the Afian^ African) European and American Churches* as M. A. and M. S, in their defence p.92. do take notice of, ('which book I confefle it was mine unhappiaefle not to hear of untill this traftate of mine was tranferibed for thepreffe, and who have dealt exceeding candidly upon this question, and feem to yield the faireft concdfions toward the univerfality, unity, Inte¬ grality, and priority of the whole Church in fome refpefts of reafon, pag, 77. though not fo much as is contended for ) yet l Ly for th«fe things fake, I fhould be very tender in defining ( as the cafe now ftandeth ) what Churches, or howfarre the vi¬ able Churches may with convenience or fafety enter Into afta- E e 3 all 21*5 ■Quefl. 2, SoT' I • 7hat the Church-Cathfliek^ &ual combination, left the truth* of God, or the liberties of the more found and pure Churches fhould bee prejudiced thereby. I come now to handle the predicate of my Queftion, which I may well call a fecond Queftion, and that is, Which of thefe two churches is Prima orfir i?, and which Secundaria or fecondary . e them even in time. Alfo, Ido not mean in regard of conftitution of the whole politi¬ cal Kingdom*- of Chrifi by aggregation and combination, a? 1VI. Hooker irnderftai ds mee, for the particular Congrega iobs inuft exift before they can bee combined and aggtegated. Nei¬ ther do I mean in regatd of operation? for now the Church i* conftituted is the prime Church. conftituted, and divided into particular combinations, thepar- ticular Churches are firft in their ordinary operations. And yet the Evangelical Church did put forth operations at firft, before any fuch divifions, and without any reference to them. But pofitivdy I mean the Church-Catholick is before the particular. i . Intentione diving in God’s intention : as Nature intends firft the whole man, and not any part of man, although the parts are in fome ftnfc before the whole in confederation, for the whole is made up of them. 2. Infiitutione diving In regard of Gods inftitutioa. God did firft inftitute the whole by one Charter, Covenant and fy- ftemeofLaws, and the particular Congregations fecondarily, for convenient communication of perfons, and tranfa&ions of bufinefs, Go teach all Nations was the fit ft Commiflion after Chrifts refurreftion. 3 . Vonatione diving for the Ordinances and priviledges of the Church were firft gi ven to the whole, & fecondarily to the particular Congregations : aithe priviledges of any Kingdom and Corporation are, 4 The Church-Catholick is prior dignitate in dignity, a King¬ dom is of more dignity and honour then any particular town.; and a City then any ftreet or ward, The whole hath more dig?- nity then any part. Yea, and 1 may fay alfo in authority, for the authority of the whole is greater in divers icfpeCts then of the parts* 5 . Perfefiiwe, for the perfection of the whole is made up of the perfection of the parts, a whole Kingdom of the parts of it : and any whole comprkzeth the perfection of the parts of it; a particular ftreet or ward is an imperfeCt, incompkat thing, and not confident alone, but as a part in reference to che whole: and as a member in reference to the whole body. The par¬ ticulars may have the perfection of parts, and fome bee more perleCt thrn others, but the whole is mod perfeft ; and j:he perfections of the parts concurr in the perfection of the Whole. 6 E ntitivc or ejfcntialiter , the Church Encitive is before the Organical, for the Oigauieal is wade up of (he members of she 2l8 That the Church-Catholic\ the Church Entitive, and the Church-Eniitve affords materials Quett.2, to the Church-organical* And in this refpeft the particular Churches are properly orne, arifing out of the Entitive: and fo alfo is the whole Church-organical,for it arifeth out of the com* bination of the pa»t;cular Congregations, and both it and they confilf onely of membirs ot the Church Entitive. And herein I confent unto M. Parker in this fenfe ; but not that the habituall power of Elders fhould arife from the particular Con¬ gregations to aft in Synods, but onely in regard of their evoca¬ tion and exciting of their power to aft in reference to them pr» hie & nunc. j. Caufalitatc cjjicientis Miwflerialif, For the Church-Ca- tholick already convened is a means of converting more unto them, as opportunity is afforded, and of admitting minifterially into the Church Catfaolick both entitive firit, and cben organi- call, both private members and alfo Officers into their habitual office. 8 . Cognitior.e five nofeibilitate perfeftd- For though this or that Congregation be proprior ad fenjum , and fo notior rejpetlu noftrt , which Ucognitione confuffi^ yet the Church Catholick is yvafiieSTifQ- dwxat aofeibilior Jimp licit tr, Vijlinfta enim cogni- tio fequitur ordinem nature, in /e, & in mtntc bene difpofjta t As univerfalia funt notior a minus univerfslibus > & (peciet infirm , in- dividuis. The Kingdome of England as a Kingdom is propius ad vationeniy and fo mfeibiluts diftinftd ratiorn : but particular towns a repropiora ad fenjum The notion of ah Engliffi man comes €rft upon a fubjeft of this Kingdome, before of a Suffolk man. A man may have-knowledge of England as a Kingdom, and be well skilled in the polity, laws, and priviledg^s there¬ of, and yet by fenfe have but imle or no knowledge of par¬ ticular Towns: foaman may know much of the Chsrrdi, as Chrifts Kingdome, and bee well skilled in the Laws, Ordinan¬ ces, and priviledges thereof, and yet know but few particular Churches. ^ So that the priority of the Church-Catholick vifible, in re- fpeft of the particulars, is the like priority of a Kingdome to >sfce parts of it, or of a Corporation in relpcft of the parrs of is the prime Church, * 219 of it; which ia not meant in a mathematical or techtoni- call confideration, for fo the particular buildings are prtma, 2 * and the whole city orta, yet fo M. Hooker undcrftood mec in his acute arguing about integrate, Sutv. fug* 255* But in re¬ gard of mention, mflitution, don at t oh of prtviledges , dignity, perfect ton, ejfeyee, infirttme ntall efficiency > and perfeti cognition of it. There is alfo a difference between ortum & fecundarium , for every ortumis fecundarium, but every fecundarium is not ortum. But 1 principally mci.nt fecundarium or fecund *ri ; yet in regard the particular Churches a rife and fpring out of the Church-En- titive, and are converted and admitted minifierially by the Church-Cttholick already in being, they may truly be laid to be orta, and the Catholick primx. Firft, all the names that are in the Scripture given unto the Church-vifiblc, agree primarily to the Church-Catholick .-and&# 2 fecondarily to particular Congregations. As iuKKnelo t, tvftxKu : we are firft confidered,as called out from Idols, and devoted to be the Loids people, before wc can be confidered of this or that Congregation. We know they were given even to the Jews, before ever any Congregationall Evangelicall Churches hadex¬ igence, A cl. 7,38. Ihe Church in the wildernefs , And the Jews are frequently called the Lords people . So the Church is called thehouje of the living God, 1 Tim. 3.15. jind the ground and pil- laroftruth ,Gods vineyard, Jwh. 15.1. Wherein branches in Chrift bearing no fruit are cut off, Chrifis jheepfold, Job. 10.16- Barn- floor, Mat 3. 1 2. Drag-net, Wheat-field. Kingdom of heaven. Mat. * 3 * 37>38. great houfe wherein are vcjfels even of dishonour, 2 Tim. 2. 20. Thefe names cannot be limited or appropriated to any particular Congregation, but are firft true of the whol$ Church, and of every particular C hurch as a part thereof. Con - gregattones particulares funt qptafi partes ftmilares Ecclefia Catho lie*, atejue adeb dr nomen & naturam ejus participant, Amef. mcd. lib. 1. chap.32.f4 Secondly, that is the primary Church to which the Covenant, j Laws and Piivitedges of the Church do primarily bc- long: but the Covenant,Promifes,Laws and Priviledges dopri- marily belong to the Church-Catholick* Therefore, &c. Ff The 220 That the Chptrch Catholic ^ Quetta 2. The minor 1 prove, becaule the Covenant of grace and fal- vation by Chrift, and the firft Evangelical promife that ever vfras' made in the ■world, was to Adam and Eve y representing all mankind, and therefore conftquencly the whole Church o& God. This was before there was any divifion or diflin&ion made of Churches into Jew and Gentile, National of Congre¬ gational, Again, the ma’n commiffion for gathering the Evangeli- call Church was, Go teach all Nations y andbaptise them\ in- the name of the F ather^Sdn y and hvly Ghajt , Mat. 2.8 And this was be¬ fore any divifions or lubdiWfions were appointed: and they' were fecondarily brought in, for order and convenient admini- dration ot Ordinances, and communication of members^ and tranfa&ion of bufineffej and they being fimilar parts of the whole,,receive thein particular diftinftions from external* acci- dfc»tal,and adventi' ious parcicularitic?, as the places where they tx-ift 5 the paidcuiar Officersfetover them ; their purity or impu¬ rity, eminency or obfeurity, multitude or pauciicv,2?al or remil- nefie, antiquity or laoe conftitudon,^. 1 hey all iecain the ge- nerall efTendal form and difference from heachens, and anrorg tbemfelves, as parts of a fimilar budy,are dillinguilhtd. but by accidental! difference?,. And th at protuife th? t the gates ofkellfhall never prevail, agatnft the Churchy t* primarily given to theChurcb-Caiholick vifible here on earth ; Forthitin heaven i? not afifailed by the gates of heIl,butionly that on earth. And though it may feern to he ap* piicable to the invifible only , yet to thofe as vifible; for fo they are affailed by perfect tix.ns and herefies. Again, fie that beluvethandts baptiwd^fhall befaved •, Mar- 1 &• Thig doth primarily belong to the Church-Catholick, and that a villble Church, becaufe capableof Baptifm, and though it) be applicableto every member of any particularGongrega. ion, yet not as being a member of that ra» titular foeiety or confederati¬ on, but as being in the general! Covenant,, andfo a member of the Church^ Caiholick, to which that pr omife was made. Yea* lookvover.all the promife* in the Nevr« Teftament, and you (hall find them made in general, without theleaft refpeft or reference so the particular confederations orGeogregations wherein the believers is the -prime Church. believers lived. In any fimilar body, as water , the accidents do not primarily pertain to this or that particular drop, andfecon- dariiy to die whole* but firft to the whole, and fecondarily to this o,r that drop. So the promifes and priviledge* of the Church do not primarily belong to this or that particular Church, and fecondarily to the Citholick-j but firlito the Cathoiick, and fe- condarily to this or that particular Congregation or perfon, a* being a member thereof. The Laws alfo are given to the whole Church primarily, as the Laws of England are to the whole Kingdom primarily, and to the particular divihcm fecondarily,and all are bound to obedience not as Suffolk or Eflex men, butasSubje&s of this Kingdom. So the Laws of Chrift binde every particu¬ lar Church, but not becaule in fitch a particular Covenant or confederation, but bccaufeSubje&s oLChrifts viable .King¬ dom. The like may be Laid cf the priviledges of the Church- Two main privileges of the Chui ch are federal!hotimfe of the chil¬ dren ofvifible believers, and right to the Ordinances , in faro Ec- U > Suppofe a Church diflolved by war, the Minifter and people flain, or dying by fome raging peftilence, and lome women left with child, and haply they carried away captive, fhould not their children be uyiot 9 becaufe the particular relation is ck- tintt > Do not thofe women remain members of the Church ?> But they ceafe to remain members of that particular Church or Jntegralljfor that b ceafed. Therefore of the Church-Catholick or of none. Are they to be accounted without in the Apoftles ienfc? Are vifible believers not yet joined in Church-oider or fellowlhip by a particular Covenant to be accounted without ? Or is a Congregation deprived of Elders by death, and in that interval deftitute of Word, Sacraments, and diiciplineto be ac¬ counted without? Is it the particular joining of a company of private Chriftians together without Officer?,, before they be cr- ganized,that gives them their right primarily to theOrdinancw? I fear too much is attributed to that part cular conjunftion and covenant,and too much weight laid upon it, which is a very ac¬ cidental! thing to our right to Ordinances, and enters not into it at all, but is mutable and exrirguifhibie,without theleaff im¬ peaching ©f the right t o Ordinances* IfthcFeafon whereupon the Apoftle faith the Church of CV- rinthvjM not to judge them that were without, was becaufe - they were not within the Church of Corinth, and fo not under their particular cenfure or judgment, this holdeth true of them that be of another focicty or Congregation,defiring to be admit¬ ted to the Sacrament, as well as of fuch as are no fet member?, defiring to be received to the Lords Supper. And fo all numbers which are of one fociety, are without unto another. See M. Bals triall, fag. 47. But by fornicators of this world, whomtbe Apo¬ ftle poimeth unto by the title of being witrhoHt i 1 Cor. 10. n . he means fuch as had not received the Covenant of grace : fuch as were aliens from the Common-wealth of Ifracl\ Grangers from the covenant of promife, having no hope, and without God in the world, Ibid* And for right to the Ordinances, it arifeth from the gene- sall Covenant^ andfo is a priviledge primarily belonging to vi¬ able is the prime Church. --- - - 4 . - fible believers, though in no particular confociatk>B,the admif. fion into the particular Congregation only affords an opportu¬ nity ,becaufe thereby a particular Minifler hath taken the charge of him, and muftadminifter the Ordinances to him, which any other Miniftermay do upon occafion. For Baptifm,it cannot be a priviledge of the particular Cove¬ nant, for if a Pagan be converted he muff be baptiz faith Peter of Cornell hs and his company. So ( may 1 fay ) can any man forbid the Lords Supper to be adninilfred to fkch as have received Ch rift, and his Spirit, and are baptized as well as we ? See more of this Qtt 2. SeH» 4, M, Norton in hit anfwer to Apollonius , pag.% 2. acknowledgeth the Sacrament* are not ligns or feals of the Kcclehafticall Cove¬ nant (as he calls it)bat figns and feal* of the Covenant of gracr, and yet the Sacraments are to be adminiftred onely to fuch as are entred into tkeEccltfufticall Covenant, explicitly or impli¬ citly: his reafon isbecaufe the Sacraments are to be admini- ftred onely fader at is.*, u e. to fuch as are in Covenant, andfo members firft. Jf M. Norton tneaoeth by Covenant, the Covenant of grace, it is tFue,they muftbe in tile Covenant of grace^ externally at leaft, by profefled yielding themfelves totheLoid, or byfe- d .rail hohnefle, before they be capahk of Baptifm, but then it is nothing to his purpofe, but if he mean a particular, E;cleft- afticall Covenant, whereby he is made a member of a particular Congregation, then 1 conceive it if no w«yrequifite unto bap- ps the prime Chttrch • eifm. Pt is again# the order of nature that the particular Co- SeB wnaHt which is but hutnatif, arbitrary, mutable 3 extinguifhible e ' 2 * and accidemall j tfcould precede the generall which is divine,ne* •eiTary, immutable, perpetual I, and eflentiall td a Chriftian: it is as i f a man fhould fir# be made a free-man of London and tiien a Denizon of England, i ndeed he is not capable of the pri- tiledges that are peculiar to that Congregation, except he be a member of it, but Bjptifm h a general] prmltdgc of eve¬ ry fubjtdt of Chi ifts Kingdom. Neither have weany precept irt the Scripture, for the precedency of the particular Covenant be-' fore the general: nor any example or intimation of any iuch pra&ice in Scripture, but of the contrary/ Whac particular Con¬ gregational Covenant did thofe that were baptized by John Ba- P n A °r Chrifls Difciples enter into before bap ifm > or the Em- nuchythc Jailor and his houfhculd, or L/cka y or Pant, or Cornelia u4 } or chethtee thoufand converted by Peter y that were inhabi- tans of fb many ftverall countries ? True indeedfome of them weie members of the Jewilh Churchward fo in the general Cove-* nant, but what hr that to theuiaking ofthtm members of a par¬ ticular, Evangelical Congrtgational Church ? Infants are ac* knowledged tc^bcmembera of the Church before b ape ifm, p- 25. and Bttcer Lee. 47. cited for i r ,yet they enter into no fuch Co¬ venant beforeSaptifm. M. Nbrton confelfetH,^. 25. that the/V&- tobaptiz^itm could notrbe a member ofa Church, unlefs one man might bea Church,or a member be wichouc an Integra*. Tt is a marvel that feeing fo much weight lyeth on this particular Church-Covenant,^*.. The interelf in the feals of the Covenant of grace,the Scripture fHouid never give any intimation of it, or dlie&ions about itw The like may befaid ofhearittgthe Word, any v’ftblfc belie* ver may Hear it where-ever God giveth him opportunity, not as a heathen, or man-without,butrashimghfefmh 1 pom >n. Atid any Chriftian may join in prayer, and thy, Qtfr Father, &c. with any Chriftians inthefartfttft partsoP the World . if hee fhou'd come into thtircompany^ in thtr performance of fii'cH dudes. Th« gneateft Query is about the Ordinances of Dlfciplinei becaule they cannot be difpenfed by a fiagU Bld«v tot * n a College 226 'That the Church-Catholick, Quelh 2> College or Presbytery of Elders in combination, and requiie a joynt power to be exercifed in the inflifting of cenfurer, and this power Is not fofacii to be drawn into aft as the pow¬ er to adminiftcr Ordinances of worfhip, which may be by intreaty of any tingle Miniftcr in any place. But firft every one, even as a member of the Church-Catholick, yea, though but entitive, is bound to fttbmit thereunto by his entring, by the generall Covenant, into the Kingdom of Chrift, that be¬ ing one of his Ordinances, and is needful! and beneficiail to all Chriftians. And every Elder, as he is given to the Church Catholick, as every Levixe was to all Ifrael ,hath right in atluprime to difpenfe the Ordinances of Difcipline every where, if he hath a fuficienc call. And in confederation, this Ordinance is given in the fame method that the others are,r/'*.,firft to the whole body andKing- dom of Chi iff, and fecondarily to the particular parts, and yet as in other Ordinances the particular Churches which are laft in intention, are firft in execution and operation, fo it is likewife In this s and fo it is in adminiftration of Jufticc in a Kingdom, theLaws are made for the whole Kingdom,and com fecondarily to particular Counties and Corporations, are executed prima¬ rily and immediatly in thofe particular Counties and Corpora¬ tions, and yet this hinders not the powerofParlaments,or Offi¬ cers called thereto,to difpenfe juftice to divers Counties, yea, to the whole Kingdom, and to relieve fuch as are wronged in their particular aflbeiations. Suppofc an Apoftl fhould have preach’d in a city,and converted but a few, haply moft or all of them women, as it was Paul'* lot to preach to a company of women, tf.13.fo that they could not be brought into one Organical Congregation: could it be conceived that they, though baptiaed, were ftill without ? And wore not their children And if any of them fhould raif- carry in their judgments or praftices, had Paul nothing to do to cenfunc tbem, becaufe they werenoi congregated and combi* nedbya particular Covenant in a Church-way (asfbme term it) but remain unfixed members of the Church-Catholick. If they be liable to cenfure, then doth difciplinc belong to the Church- Catholick primarily. is the prime Church. Nay, let that bee fuppoied for iiiuftration fake which Patti Gj. i. 8.1uppofeth of twntelf, that heeor any of the ApoHes ftiould have apoftadzed, and tither preached another Mtffi- as, or lived fcandaloufly, or proovrd a perfecucor : had Chrift left the Church no key to binie him, bscatde hee was a general Officer and a fixed member of no particular Congregation? might not the reft of the Apoftles excommunicate him ? then that cenfure would bee Catiiolick, without refpeft to any parti¬ cular Congregation. 7 he Ordinances of Difciphm were fir ft given to the Church - Catholic/{, becaufe the l^eys were fi*Jl given to the /Jpo(lles y who were gtncral Patterns^ and therefore the keys are Catho • licl{ : Alfo the cenfures part in one Congregation reach the whole Church-Catbolick vifible,and are binding to the whole, and their absolution reachsth as farr, and let’s the perfon into an habitual right to communicate anywhere again, as hath been (hewed before. That which belongeth to every part of a fimilar body, that primarily belongs to the whole : but Difcipline bee- longeth to every pare of the Church Catholick which is a fimilar body: and therefore it primarily belongs to the whole. If the keyes be not Cathohke then this inconvenience will fol¬ low, that a vifible beletver obtaining baptifm before he be a fix¬ ed member, may d her through pretence of fcrupulofity, or perigrination, fa&orftitp, or frequent removing, orrefafalto joyn with any particular Congregation C though never fo here¬ tical or fcandaious ) ftiaii thereby dcape all cenfures, becaufe the keys aie onely particular,and'nb bwdy can inflift any cenfure upon him: and yet being a vifiMe membwr, under the ftaf of the covenant, (hall converfe with other Chriftians, and haply upon this habitual right, hear the Word, or haply be admitted to th« Lords Table Which is a* if a fub/t-ft of England, be¬ caufe he will be a fixed inhab’tanc in no Town,bat ua.dring up and down, drinking, thieving, and whoring, thereby ftiould c- fcape all civil cenfures, it is common to all polities that every County, Corporation, £ g or Sea. 22 8 That tl t- ki'Ych-C atholtc k, j&uefi* 2 * Sett. 3. or divifion that have power 10 atimunttei, juiticc, according to the laws of the polity, (hall apprehend maletA&ors with¬ in »heir limits (wherever the maiefa&or hath his conftaac dwelling) and either punifh them themfelv?, or turn them over to luchas are called toadmirtifter jufUce to the whole : and otherwife outrage* cannot bee avoided or puti'ihed, which are committed by men in places remote from their dwel¬ lings. The like power muft bee allowed in Chrift* E:clcfiiftical polity, that the vihble members of Cht ills Church may either beecenfured by the particular Church in whofe limits they of¬ fend, or bee fent to the Church 10 which they belong, which the offended Church hath no power by civil compulsion to do, or that Church is very farr off, haply in anotherCountry : or hap¬ ly they belong to none : orelfe there mull bee a comb ned El- derlhip that may cenfure fuch perfons. Though civil limits be appointed for cohabitation of the membersof pmicularCon- g-egations, and for maintenance of their Minifiers, and provi¬ ding for the pour, and are not effential to the Church, but the members are to bee accounted as members of that C ongregati- on every where, and the Eiders if in travel with any of their Congregation, ought to watch over them and admonilb them a* their Eldeis,and they to obey them where ever they become, which (heweth that ex ernallimitsbound not the Minifterial power, as it doth the civil power of a Mayor orConftable:vet there muft be fomekindeof proportion holden wi h civil polities for the cenfuring of wandring Chriftian*; elfc may herei'cks and fcandalous Chriftians come from forreigrr parts, and do much hurt, and yer avoid allcen epbets , thirdly Teachers . Now this Church w -is the Church-Catholick, and not any particular Congregation , for it is the Church to whch God gave Apoftles. Note ado from here?, that the fame Church to which God gave Apoftles and Prophets to ? he fame he gave Teachers alfo : though not with general, affrial power, as to the extraordinary Officers, yet w>tb hab cuall power of office. And although Bifhop 5 Pa for* Elder and Minifier do carry a reference to fome particular place wherein by iht polity of the Church fuch Officers are fet 5 yet have they a more general rela¬ tion extending to the whole Church-Catholick, as hath been {hewed before. Patti an Apoftle calls himfelf a Teacher and Preacher, 2 Tim. I.IX. is the prime Church. 233 I. II. Peter alio and John the Apoltles call thermcm Preshy- „ ters>i Pet. 5* 1. a Pp,Joh, i.and 3. Ep, Jehu, 1. Wefinde alfo Mi- e ^* 4 * nifters are in Scripture fpuken ot under a general notion. They are called Mint fas of the word , Luk. 1. ». and Minifiers ofGod t I Cor. 6. 4. and Minitten of Chrifi , 1 Cor. 4. 1, and Mini fieri of the New Tefiament , 2 Cor. 3. 6. and Minifiers of the Gofpeh 1 Thef. 3. 2. and Minifiers of the LordyEphef. 6.21. Where the Miniilerial Office is fet down fey the reference thereof to the Author that employech them, and the fubjeft abor t.which they are employed, and not the objeft perfons, unto whom they mh nifired. They are not called Minifiers of the people, as if they car• tied their l^ysy and were their fiewardr , hut their Teachers, Ruler Sy YiPtoursy Overjeer /, Fathers or Minifiers for them. Col, 1, 7. Jn- deed the ApoftI* faith, they are your fervants for Chrifts fake, 2 Cor. 4. 5. As the Gentlmen that ferva Noble man, fervthe meaneft that arc invited to his table, but therein they do fervicc to their Lord. And the Angels themfelvs (by whofe names Minifiers are calledin 2,and 3. of Revelation )they are miniflring fpirits fent out for the good of the Ele&, but it is in fubjefrion and obedi¬ ence to God, and not to them. And if a Minifter of this or that Congregation bee not a Mi- rifterofthe Church-Cat hollck vifible, then bee is no Minifier out of his own Congregation, and therefore cannot preach or adminijler any Sacrament as a Minifiery out of his own Congregation , vea,ifany members of another Congregation fhould come and hear a Mi¬ nifter preach in his own Congregation, hee could not preach to them, nor they hear him as a Minifter, but onely as a gifted bro¬ ther. And though hee may pray and befeech his own flock as an Ambafiadour ofCh«:ift,to bee reconciled unto God, 2 Car* 5. 20* yet hee cannot fay fo to any ocher, except hee bee an Ambaffa- dour in office unto others alfo. And ifheebeea Minifter to one member befides his own Congregation^then i* hee fo indefinite¬ ly to all, by the fame reafon. But if hee deliver the word as a Minifter to his own Congre¬ gation only, then the fame word which is delivered at the fame time by the fame man, is delivered by vertue of the Minifterial office to feme, and to others ex offitio charitatis generali, onely 234 7bat the C burcb-CaibolicI^ §>uett.2» as a gifted brother. And if this be granted,which is aboard, yet a greater abfurdity will followj viz. tnat it he admir.iitef the Lords Supper to any members of anoiher Congregation, he muft do that alio as a gifted brother, and as a private perron s whereas a private pcrfon out ot office, hath nothing to do to adminifter thefeals of the Covenant, as isCvnteflcd by all, except a few Anabaptiftsoflate on purpofe, c*l conceive, to avoid this ar¬ gument. And yet this communion, o" members of other Con¬ gregations is frrqmnt among our brethren ior Congregatio* al Churches. Neither can this be amwe< td that it is done by vet* tue of communion of Churches, except: there be a communion of offices and Officers, and fo every Minifter be an ideiii.it e, ha¬ bitual Officer, and a Minifter of the Chinch Gdihoiitk. And if a Minifter hath an ir.d. fimu c ffice, and can adminifter the teals of the Covenant,to ftranger* in his ovtn Congregation, in bis own meeting-heufe, then any wh*:eetfe, in •*> y other meeting.hc-ufe; tor no man Will la l iaMimlteriai office iscir- cumferibed bv, or tyed unto the t d 6r>ck hi* own mteting- heufe, or any efpfciall influence or «»u ho ity afforded him in the execution of his Minifte.ial fun&onbythe pretence of his own Congregation. He whofr < ffice islimi.ee? within. and Hands wholly in relation to a particula, $ lact,i* putn- office when he is out of that place, as a Major < f a Gorporation f and a ConfU- bie of a Parilh t butfoisnotaMiniltej,heiino private man as loon a? he is out of his meeting-houfc, or the limits of his Con¬ gregation. And though indeed he be more peculiarly their P ,for or Bi- ftiop,one that hath the over-figf t of thar. in the f ord in a more immediate 3 efpecial manner a&uallyjyet rhit extends to all places, wbeie-ever he or they (hall come by occaikm,though never fo far fiom their dweIlings,butfo is not a Major or Cor»ftabl«.Ard be- fides this particular relation he hath an indefinite t ffice, ht is a Minifter in general to all others,and may exert his powst oft ffice co them,as God givech occafion^and they give hi?-. a call^sithoilt taking a new efpeciall relation to them ; but fo cannot a Major or Conftable,though they were intteaud to uie their office cut of their limits,becaufethry are oncly particular Officers, bee ibis more fully in Cbap. 6 . Sett. 4. and 5. Suppofe u the prime Chur eh. 235 Suppofe^Miniftersfiock by mortality, or the fword ffiould c « e sliolved, excindt and ceafe, indeed heceafeth to be their Pa- e °. r ’ ecdu * e £ ke correlative failech, but he ceafeth not to be a ini er °t t ie Gol'peh A King or Major haply ceafe to be <0 a- ny onger, ir his Kingdom or Corporation Ihould link or bee wa owed up, becaufe there is no Catholick Kingdom or Cor- poration whereofthey were Officers,but the office of the Minifter ceaieth not, becaufe he was an Officer of the Church-Catholick, W j C ,- C0I 7 e , I t ^ ve finkcth not : but ftill his power in ullu prime to npenfe all the Ordinances of Chrift, which a/ingle Officer can per orm, remameth, only his call ad dlium fecundumfive ex - ercitum^prohic & nunc, which is appointed by the polity of the a call^here^ 01 ^^ 5 CCaiei ^ 3 becaufe lhe y are cut °ff that gave him a 8 a * n ft this I find made by thofe two Reverend ini ers M. A. andM.S. in their Defence, p.208. It is to this PJ 5 .P-V- ^Ordination of a Minifter bean indeleblecharafter ^ 1 e aptifm} and ceafcth not when his particular relation to a Congregation ceafeth, why then ffiould not a ruling-Elder or eacon remain an Elder or Deacon in the Church, though their particular relations ceafe ? 1. Ifyou pleafe to caft your eye back to the anfwer of an Obje&ion of M. Hookers that is like to this, ch. 2. field. 4. it may afford lome light to the anfwering of this Obje&ion, to which 1 refer you, being loth to repeat the fame again. 2. I premife alfo, that for ought I can finde, both ruling- Elders and Deacons, ffiould continue in their offices as long as they Imdjif the Congregations or Presby terial Churches which cnole them be not diflblved, or if they be not ejected by cen- t.J\ * . deny r n . 0t ^ ut d,at Deacons office may ceafe at the diffoffiuon of the Church that chofe them, becaufe the fubjeft t eir office, ^. contributions, ceafe with the contributers: and fo it may be faidofthe ruling-Elders alfo, becaufe the par¬ ticular objeft of their office ceafeth, and yet both of them while tney are in thei^offices may extend the execution of their offices Deyond the particular Church that chofe them, to a greater part or the Church, and poflibly to the whole, H h 4., There That the Church-Catholtck^ 4. There is a great difference between the Mincer of the Word and the ruling-Elder, the hrft hath two key?, viz,, ot do- &r me and difeipline, the other hath but one, viz,, of difei* pline. The fuperiour order is conceived to comprehend the power of the jnferiour; and fo the Apoftles had all the pow¬ er of the infericur, even of Deacons ; the like may be faid of the reft. 5 . The key ofdifeipline cannot be exercifed but in a combi¬ nation, and therefore muft ceafe when that ceafeth, which muft be at the diftoludon of the particular Church, whether Congre¬ gational or Presbyteiial which chofe them : but thekeyofdo- &rine, with which the Minifter of the Word is inverted, may be exercifed by a fingle perfon out of combination,and therefore that'ceafeth not at fuch diffolution.Indeed the exetcifeofhiskey of difeipline is fufpended by fuch diffolution, yet is referved in him habitually in aUa prmojoeezuie it is annexed to(if not com¬ prehended under ) his key ofdo&rine. And if there can be any tufe made of that polidon of difpenfing Ordinances to other Churches mediantibus candelabris i it is more proper to this key then the other, becaufe his pardcular relation to the particular Church, lets him into the particular combination,and fo into a greater upon occalion ofa call. 6 . And for ought I know, this might be the reafon why the Apoftle changed the manner of fpeech from the concrete to the abftraft, 1 Corinh. chap. 12. ver. 28* from teachers to hdps, governments; to intimate that they that have thofe offices ceafe to be Officers when they ceafe to be helps, or to be imploi- in government, but the oihers are affixed indeleblyunto their perfons, and may be exercifed more at large in the Church, and cut of it, bmhviHjp.$wi , and fingly without attuall com¬ bination* Suppofe a part of a County wherein ajufticeof peace for* merly dwdr, and executed his office, ffiould fink, yet, if h-e be pref*iv«d,hercmainethftilliia his office, and may execute it in any other place in the County , where he (hall dwelig be¬ cause his office flood in reference to the wbofe-Oounty, though he cxercifcd it actually but in one place. So is the Minifters office (as a Miaifter of the Gofpell) general^ though they is the prime Church* take but particular divifions and parcels of the Church to feed and watch oVer actually and particularly, and do not ordina¬ rily ftretch themfelVes within another* particular line and li¬ mits without a call, by permittance, or entreaty, or combina¬ tion. And that a Minifteri* a Minifterof the Church Catholick vifible, appear* thus .* He that can mimflerially admit or eject a member into , or out of the Clsurch-Catholick, vifible ; is a Ali - nifier and Officer of the Church-C atholick vifible. But every Mintfler by Baptifm , or Excommunication admitteth or e)c£l- eth members into , or out of the Church-C atholick^ vifible* There - fore % 8 tc. This Argument I find more fully laid down by Apollonius , fiC P a for ut Baft or exercet malt os a£hu nnniferiaPes , non t ant urn f,i erga Ecclefam fuam particularem cut ordmario mtniferio efl affixtts , fed erga Ecclefas alias particulares , & Provinciales , & st Nationales^ imo & erga Ecclefam univerfalem : Nam per Bap” ct tifmum membra in Ecclefam univerfalem admittit : per excom - municationem membra , non tantum ex fa a particularly fedetiam cc Provincial^ Nationally & 'll niv erf ali Ecclefa ejicit , Mat. 18. £f 18, 19. Ex officio paflorali preces Deo offert pro omnibus aliis Ec - clef is labor antibus : Verbum Dei in aha Ecchf aparticulari pra- * l die are pot efl ^ non tantum virtute & rat tone donorum , fed cum pa - And now they are conttituted , it cannot be faid they are formally baptized into them, for haply the perfon bap¬ tized in a particular Congregation, will never be a member thereof, but of fome other. Our brethren hold that it is entring Hh 2 into That the Church-Cat ho/ick^ into their particular Covenant, that make* them aftuaily mem¬ bers of their Congregation ? aud that the children of their own Church*members are by Baptifm but incompleat members of that Congregation. Oi.r brethren will not fay ( 1 fcippofe) that thofe performs that go from hence to them , being already baptized , are hea¬ thens and without, though they have left ^their particular memberfhip ? Surely they account them fubjefts of Ghrifi, and under his feal; why eife do they admit any of them members of their Congr. gations C into which they may admit only Chrifts Subjects ) and fet no new feal of Baptilm upon them ? And as Baptifm admitteth primarily^ formally^nd antecedentcr into the Church-Catholick,and /'econdarily and confecpuenter into that particular Congregation,fo the fame order is in ejeftion by excommunication. If a finger were added to a man’s hand, the primary confideration is, that there is a limb giv*;n to that man, iuch a man we fay hath recovered his fight or hearing, though ic befeated in the eye or ear. And if a hand could be conceived to cut, nip, or fear off a gangrened finger, it w uld not be conceived as an aft of the hand onely, but a* an aft of the man, and the man would be faid to lofe a limb primarily,. and the fecondary confideration is, that the particular hand hath loft a finger. When D. Cranmer burnt off his right hand, it was not the aft of the arm only,but of the whole man primarily. And if this be fo of members that are fixed, and have their particular place and office in the body , and cannot be removed and fet any where elfe : then much more of the members of the Church, which were members of the Church-Enciiive , before they received their particular memberfhip in any Congregation, and may be remo¬ ved from one Congregation to another, as oft as occafion or conveniency ferveth. But becaufe excommunication is an aft of many, vot v>ttQvuy i 2 Cor. 2. 6 > I will therefore, infift. more particularly upon Baptifm, which is an aft of a fingle Paftor or MinUter, though paded with the knowledge and confenc of the Con^ gregadon* Thafc 2 $9 is the prime Church. That by Baptifm we are admitted Into the Church , I think is without doubt: for if perfons baptized be not members of the 4« vifible Church , then the fetalof the Covenant is adminifired to thofe that are and remain one of the Church , andfo were no initialfeal^ ■which were ah furd to fa}. M. Ball in his Gatechifm hath this paffage: cc Baptifm is a Sa- w crament of our ingrafting into Chrift, communion with him, he is called a Difciple at Damafcus, it is pro- bable he was one of the Elders there, but that Paul was ever a fixed member of any particular Congregation, itap- pears not. That which is anfwered to this is, That they which admini- ftred Baptifm fo indefinitely, were extraordinary general Offi¬ cers, which are now ceafed. But this falves it not, for if the im¬ mediate right to Baptifm , &c. comes to the receiver by being a member of a particular inftituted Congregation, as M. Norton , and M. A . and M. S. in JDef. chap. 4. pag. 73. tells us, then John BaptiJ ?, Chrijfs Difcip/es , Philip and Ananias (though he had been an Evangelift ) adminiftred it to fuch as had noaftualand immediate right to receive it. Indeed the anfwer implieth a more large, aftual, extenfive power in the adminiftrers , either to have conftituted new Churches, or to adminifter in any con- flituted Churches, but it gives not them power to adminifter any Ordinance of God to fuch as had no right thereto, nor power to the receivers to receive it without aftual right, in an undue order. It gives them not jut in re 9 who had in themfclves onely jus ad nm y as their diftinftion is. And the proof brought p-76.outof Alb, 5.14. is, as I conceive, miftaken. Their words are thefe s 0 Believers were added * firft they were believers Ci ftandinginthat fpiritual relation to Chrift and his whole hodg t u and then added to the Church by vifible combination. But it is not faid they were added to the Church , but added to the Lord : and 1 it were incongruous to gather thence that they were firft believers, and after that were added to the Lord by a fecond aft, feeing their adding to the Lord was by believing, and that which added them to the Lord the head and King, added them to the body and kingdom. “And whereas they fay,thatjuftification and Adoption,^. “ flow immediatly from internal union with Chrift, but inftitu- myriads, *, e. many ten thoufands of believing Jews therein, as James tells Pauly Atl. 21.20* wocrett which were all probably of Jerufalem, as appears, firft, becaufe they were not fuch as could bear any witnelle againft Fattly but by hear-lay ,they are informed of thee. But the Jews difperft amongft the Gentiles, having feen and heard Pauly could have teftified of their own knowledge, and would not be blinded with Pauls prefent conformity • And fecondly, becaufe they onely of Jerufalem could receive fa- tisfaftion by Pauls conformity to the Law at Jerufalem at that time, and not the others* . , AUb the holy Ghoft calling the Elder! thofe cities, the ^ 24 2 7 'hat the Chnrch-C atholicK, 1 Quell, 2 , Se$. 5, Elders of the GhurcH m communi y it leaveth it uncertain to me whether thefeveral Elders were*hxj C hr if tan firfl bears rela¬ tion, and which relation continueth loft, and cannot be broken by him without fin, is the frjl Church , but fucb is the Church- Cathohek^ vt- fible. Therefore, 8cc. The Mi jor isundenyable, The minor appears, becanfenone can be admitted into a particular Congregation, except he be judged firft of the Churcn.Catholick, and that not raeerly End- tive, but under the feal of the Covenant adminiftred by fome Officer, and fo (lands bound to fubmit himfelf to all Chrij fr Or¬ dinances and Officers, by one of which he receives his admillion. So again, though he change his habitation never fo often, bear relation to never fo many particular Congregations one after another, yet in all thofe the general relation holdc.h ftill: he it dill a baptized vifible memberoi the Church-Catholick, and therefore to be received where-ever he cometh into any particu¬ lar Congregation.Yea,in the interim after his breaking off from one Congregation, and placing in another, he retains the gene¬ ral relation and baptifm, and is not an heathen or infidel, he is not one without in the Apodles phrafe. Yea, fuppofe a man (hould be a Traveller, Merchant, or Fa- dor, and (ettled in no prrticular Congregation, yet being a Chridian, he is a member of the Church-Catholick: yea,and if he broach any errours, or live inordinately,he (hall be account¬ able to the Church where he for the prelent refides , orfuch crimes are committed, and be liable to their cenfure, as being a member of the Church-Catholick. And this appears,becaute the Church of Ephefus is commended, Rev, 2. a. for trying (Gran¬ gers that came among them under the notion of ApofUes, and i found H3 is the prime Church » found them lyars, and fo would not receive them* And ? ur Sett* 5 . brethren undertake to inflidihe fentence of Non-communion ( for fo they call it a fentence of Non-communion denounced* sipollog.Nar.pag. i8*andip.) againft ftrangers, yea, whole Churches i but how it will ftand with feme other principles of theirs, 1 know not: ifitbea fentence denounced, it is acemure, and foan aft ofdifcjplir.e cxerciftd againft thofe out of their particular confederation; which in my appreheiifi n is but changing an old warranted cenfurc of the Church, into a new and doubtfull one .• but both feem to agree in the general! na¬ ture of a fentence or cenfure. Surely hereticks and falfe ttachersare not to be *eft to the Ma-» giftrateonly, but to be referred to Ecelefiaftical trial : for thofe things coin not under the cognizance of the civil Magiftr&te p r o» ■perly : or he may be an heathen, and will not regard an here- trek, nor can judgeo* him, A&. i8-i5. Aijd if every kingdom will try murther, treafon, or any foul crime committed in the lame, though by a ftranger or alien, be¬ came the crimes are againft thdr laws and fovereign,though then Laws pertain ru t to the c, untiy where the forreigner was burn and dwelled): (hen much more (hall every Church t:y thole meir.be!s of the Chuich-Catholick, r-fiding among them,fe r their ciin c* o UUedo&rines, feeing they have ail the fame lovettign head, tlu Cm, Laws, and are ail one habitual body. Again, it is no fin for a man to remove from one Congre¬ gation to another, as oft as occallcn or conveniency require, but tor a man to remove out of the Church-Catholick,eitherEn- tidve by difclaiming the do&rine and faith ofChrift, or organi- cal by refuiing to join to any Chriftianfodcty,or tobeunde~,and fubmitunto any Church difdpline,is a great tin and apoftacy* No man ijaccounted a fchifmatick for removing from oneGon- gregation to another, but he that foal feparate himfelf irom all Church-comunion,and Ihal rendhimleiffrom theChmch-Ca- tholick,he is a fcbifmatick, he is an Apoftate. And ther fore the fevcral feds though they pretend, becauie of wants or blemifties to rend from the Church ot England, or Scotland,Slc> yet not from the Church-Gatholick by no means, becauie they know that were a lia. I i Eight- That the Church-Catholick L Eightiy, That Church from winch the particular Churches ' 2 * fpring, und to which they are as an additament and increafe 0 that is the prime Church , hut that is the Church* Catholic^ There- foi e^&c. The Major is clear of it felf* The minor appears, becatife they are theinftrament to convert the remand bring them into the fame kingdom o£ Chrifi with themfeivs, API. 2 . 47* God added to the Church daily fuch asfhould be faved, That iittle har.diul to which the Catholick charter was firft given, leavened the wh le world, and brought them in as an addition to thcmfclves. They were to be witneffes in Jerufalem , and then in Judea , and to the ends of the earth , Aft* 1 -8. tor the Law fh all go forth of Zion^and the Word of the Lord from Jerufalem^ lfai. 2.3. The Lord fh all fend the rod of his flrengrhoutofZion^idX. 11O 2. It was with the Church then at was faid of the river of Eden } Gen. 2-10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden , and from thence it was ‘ parted into four heads. So the water of life flowed from Zion into the tour quar¬ tets of the world. A* there is no creek but hath its rife from, and continuity with the Main,and receives influence from it: (o there is no par¬ ticular Church but hath his firft rife, and n/mifterr 11 influence from the Church-Catholick,^ndr£cei vr ed cheGofpel and p. ivi- ledgts of it from thence minifterially , God cads no Evangelical! Churches by infpiration only, but by theminiftrv of thofe that ai e members of the Church-Cathoiick, or iotne part of it, God would not have Cornelius inftrufted by an Angel,though he could have none it, but by Peter a Minifter of the Church-Evangelical : and Hke.wiie the Eunuch by Philip s So tha't' the Cburch-Catholick is as the Sea, and,particular Churches as fo many creeks or arms receiving a tinftureand fea- fon of her waters. The Church-Catholick is as the cn e,Chriftas the root, the particular Churches a? branches, as Cyprian makes the companion, She is the mother , and they a? daughters bom of her, and receiving from her minifterially both nature and privi- ledges, GW. 4 . 2 6 . Paul indeed was called extraordinarily from heaven by Chrift him (elf, rhe head of the Church ( and not by an Angel) that he might be, as (ome conceive, a type of the fecond call of the Jewf, *45 if the vtime Church . Jtwtf, wao ( 48 Home hold \ h !; be i > calltd, as he was, *> the Jfear&g r, the ftg» of the Son -fma» ; a id therefore hat Church m laid to come down from Gud ou - of hc*ven, jfev *i. 2 ,iO. » n r * ground rb rfustype ;hty take from i Tm? i. 16. For 5 f' * obtained m ny , ^ /» mr fi-fr Jefus Chrtfi ,wfe pjoWjo th4/1 longft fiance r G ra pattern. rf f ** a - XutilClt'' **■ L / £ - t .' . I f ,» 1 . * * /« « Au»7« ir.aivw\t w.tA > to them thatfkou/d or [ball hereafter btlieve on b-m. J hut otefv ud.n.^f, <*re m-'fleries , and T dare not be too confi- j wl * hisioov, «.« d-h:y couieto pj.; , * h.. y infringe not t^stiuih , _°-catU.' theii :o o/enien lhaii come 1 00 the head, r °' 1 5 Ouxjtaifi it iAi of the Church ^ a? Abrahams call * V s * That the Church-Catholic!^ 246 Sift. 6 . iidcicd ) but of the general. And in the creating ot a new Con¬ gregation in Nerv-EngUnd y there is to be the confent, advice, and help of the Elders of neighlx ur-Churches, they are not onely to allow thereof, out alio to ordain them Elders , which cannot be an aft of particular Officers, for it is no aft toward their own flocks, it is extraneous to them : but it is as they are habitually general Officers, and this occalion draws forth their power for the good and encreafe of the whole. If he be asked. What is fufficicnt to make a man a member of the vifible Church ? I anfwer, Knowledge and belief of the main points of the Chriftian faith, and profelfed fubjeftion thereunto. And this is as much as the Apoftles required, as in the cafe of the Eunttch and Simon Magus , &•:. and if it were fufficient then , it is fo fliil : for thofe were the pureft Churches erefted by infallible men : and yet they went upon no other grounds. So many as gladly- received the Word were bap- tiz,edy Aft. 2, 41. And yet this is no more then may be found in an hypocrite, out of novelty, fudden fliffies, admiration at the extraordinary gifts and miracles : and was found in the itony ground which received the Word with joy. And we have no other rule to go by in gathering Churches,or receiving members into a church, then they had, neither may we prefume to make any other. Li Sic cmnes ferb Reformats Theologi celebres materiam vifbi - a lis Ecclefia ajfermt ejfe homines externe vocatos fidem Chrifii a profit entes : namqtte definiunt c&tum hominum vocatione exter- nnd what matter muft be for a vilible Church, and then I conceive it is not abfo- futcly requifite that the perfons fliouid be truly godly to make them members thereof. For if it were otherwife , uo mao could is the prime Church . tell when he is in a true Church, or who are true members 9 or whofe childe ought to be baptized. And if the living members of Chrift were the only or eflcntial members of a vifible Church, then none are true eflential members but they: and a truly godly Minifter is a more eflential Minifter then another, and the Ordinances adminiftred by him, are more eifentially admi¬ niftred then by another .* and then the virtue of the Ordinance (hould d .pend riot on Chrifts Inftitution, baton theworthi- nelfeof theperfon adminiftring. And haply after many years living under a Minifter that feemcd godly, that Minifter by fal¬ ling away (hews himfelf that he was not fo r and then all thole Ordinances were null, being adminiftred by one that was not onely no Minifter, but no true member of the Church, I there¬ fore conclude with that faying of Amesin his Bellarm . Enervat . Falfim efi internes virtHtesrequtri a nobis ut ahquis fit w Ecdefm qtsoadvifibilcvt e\u$ flatum. Ahd*his M Norton in Refp» ad Apollon. p. 3. acknowledged^, Fotefi aliquis in externa EccUfia cornmnnionem admit ti , qui re alt fanttitate regenerations ? & jfffiificantc fide non efi praditns , feu qrn rigido examine exp lor at m , figna vera fidei , 0 ‘ [anil it at is in¬ terna realis tamevidentia non dedent , qua omnem conficientianz hermnum convmcere pojfint de fine era e]us fide 9 &c. Neqne necefi- fario qaarendum , an articulatim pojfint demonflrareevidentia vera gratia falutar is r«*pp<*, &c. but onely they muft be fideles >r\ /ofatr, & ashe exprefifeth himfelf indiverfe place?,they mutt be Ecc left.afi ice fideles , & apparent er^ &c. nonfemper xxT a* Au9«cu/, pag. II. In cafibus Ecclefiafiicis ladas revera non fidelis , it a afiimandm a co-Apofiolu , at fegerant erga ilium ac ft ejfiet fi¬ delity. 12. There may be a holinefie of dedication and confecration, where there is no true holinetle of regeneration and fan&ifi- catiom Ob]. But holineffe of dedication and confccration is founded upon holinefte of fan&ification, at leaft fuppofed, and there¬ fore all the Chuich*membtrs ought to have fuppofed fan&ifi- cation. Anfiw. That fanftiftcation is commanded by God to every ©ne that will dedicate himfelf unto God, is clear. But for the •~ r ~ ~7 "" II 3 “ fupgo-v 'That the Chnrch-Catholtch^ fuppofition of it in ail, it will be hard 10 prove. God enjoined his people of Ifrael to confecrate themlelves unto him to bt his people, yet he did not fuppofe them all to be godly : for he iX- prefleth the contrary of them; neitherdid Adofesz. nd Aaron i’up- pofefoof them, nor the Prophets, for they txpreflethe quite contrary. And if we come to the New Teftament, it cannot be concei¬ ved that John JBaptift, orChrifts Apoftlts did in their perfonal judgements apprehend all thofe to be truly godly whom they baptized and dedicated to God. For John called the Screes and Thartfes a generation of vipers , and ytt adueih , 1 indeed baptise yon with water , Matth. 3. 7,11. Indeed ih* y corfdfid their fins, and it is like promikd amendment, and fo will the word in our Congregations do, though they rnver perform it. The ground therefore upon which this luppofal is to b< , mull not be any man’s perfonal particular judgment, built upon mch evidence as may convince the underfunding of a judicious ex¬ perienced Minifter or Chriflian, that the perfons are truly god¬ ly, but an Ecclefiaftical judgment in foro Cede fit railed upon fuch grounds as the Minifters of God dire&cd by God have formerly gone upon ; which conditions if they find they are not to deny administration of the feals unto, which are the feals of the vifible not invisible Church The fame cames and rules arc of admiflion that are of ejc&ion vice versa : and as no man is to be cenfured and caft out of the vifible Church, bccaufe the Elders particular judgement makes them think the man hath not the true power of godlinefle , and grace of God infincericy, except he commit that which deferves aa Eccle- fiaftical cenfure .* fo neither is admiflion to be denied to any man that defires to dedicate himfelf unto God, and will pro- mife and profefle fubje&ion to Chrift in all his Ordinances, though it be fufpe&ed by judicious Chriftians, that hgjiath not the true work of grace in his-heart. The Church of God in their Ecclefiaftical judgement cenfureth onely ignorance, er- rour and fcandal. A Scholar that is admitted into a School, is not admitted becaufe he is dottut 9 but ttt fit dottm , and if hee will fubmit to the rules of the School , and apply himfelf to learn, it ie enough for his admiflion v the like may be faid of SI is the -prime Church. the Church vilible which is Ghrifts fchool. JohnBaptift did not in bis confcience chink they had all actually, really, and com- Sec ' pleatly repented and reformed themfelvs whom he baptized, but he baptized them unto repentance, Mat. 3. ri, and they by receiv~ ing the fame bound themfelvesfco indcavour the pra&ice there¬ of. It were a fad cafe for Mmifters if they were bound to admit none, or adminiffer the Lords Supper to none, but fuch as were truly godly, or that they judged in their confcience to be fo 5 or were bound to ejeft all that they Judged were not fo. I fear the Elders in New-EngUnd do not in their confciences judg fo of all their members. It is not confederation that can* give right to Ordinances,# by Gods Laws they ought not to have them* There is a great difference between thevifibleand invihble Church.* the rules of the one will not ferve for the other. No Minifter could ever adminifter the Sacrament without fin , if he . ought not to adminifter it to any but fuch as are truly godly: neither-hath God given us any rule* to judgcertainly of the truth- of grace in any man: but the moft judicious Divine in the world may be deceived by a cunning hypocrite: And to falve this by faying we ought to think in our confcience that they are godly, is vain, for as we have no fuch rule to go by in Gods Word: fo it is vrryhai (h to pafs an Ecclefnfticalcenfureupon that ground, and the like may be faid of denying admillion thereupon: and it is alfo a very doubtiull rule for a Msnifter to go by, for foms men judge very well of him that others judge bat Gieghtly of- and there will be a divilion among people in their comunica^ ting together according to their feveral judgments one of ano¬ ther, ftill fufpe&ing that they have fellowlhip with unbelievers : and both Minifters and peoples judgment vary very much con¬ cerning the fame mart * according to the variety of his carri¬ age there will fomtimesbe hopes and lomsimes fears : but Ec- clefuflicall judgment is not guided by fuch uncertain, variable rules, neither in admiffion nor ejeftion, but upon clear evidence and palpable grounds, which muft reach all, and may be clearly known and proved. There are fome I finde that diftinguifh between the quafifi-. cations of the members of the Church-Gatholick fifible, and “ ** ' ' " . " ~ " 03 250 T'hat- the Chnrch*Catholick^ Quett* 2, of themembers of particular inftituted Chu ches. For the for¬ mer, viz,* thegenerall member (hip, they acknowledge thatthele forfe-ilfcmed qualifications Will bu fufficient; and therefore will admit fuch and their children tbbaptifn>,yh?ch ( lay they) r is an O dinance of the Church-Catholick vifilne jar.d every Mi- nifter being aMinifter of theChurch-Cathoiick Vifib'e ( befideg his particular relation to his particular Congregation) maj ,Uy they, admiriifter bapeilm to theftl,though they be members of no inftituted Chutchts: but to make a metnb r of a particular inftituted Congregation, they require evident figns of true grace, andaconftnt and fubrniilion to the Ordinances ofDifcipline difpenfed by the particular Officers. But thisdiftin&ion or qua¬ lifications I find not grounded upon the Word or God, nor that any Ihould be fit to be members of the Church-Catholick vlii- ble,andnotto be members of a particular vifible Congregation. Ifthey be brought into Chrifts fheep-fold, they are fit to h*ve fomeof Chrifts ffiepherds to take infpeftion of them; ifthey be admitted into Chrifts Kingdom, City, Family,"they are fit to be under the regiment of fome of hF Officers. If the Ordi¬ nances of worlhip, yea, the leal of the Covenant be adn-ini- iftred to them, I fee no ground that thele fhoidd be freed from the Ordinances otDFc'pline, who in all likelihood will Hand inmoftneed thereof. The great Obje&ion which M. Hooker urgtth againft this affection, that the particular Churches are ortm , and where¬ by he wou'd prove the Chuch-Cathoiick to be orta i is bec uile if the Church-Catholick be an integrail, it is made up of the aggregation of the particulars, & oritur ex Mis : Andevc- ry Integrum is in refpeft of the parts Sjmhlum ejfetti. And the parts muft have a being befoie the whole can refult out of them. Anfa. TVIy main intention in the Qneftion was to prove the Church-Catholick to be the prime Church in thofe re- fpefts which are enumerated in the explication of this part or the predicate of the Qieftion, to which 1 referre you: and that the particular Churches are fecondary in the lame fen¬ ces alfo # Apd for the particular Churches being Qrt*, I have already ' both 2 5 l is the prime Church . both in the explication of the terms of the Queftion,C^. i Se#. 4. and in this fecond part exprefled my meaning thereof! Se “' 6 ' Sett, i.&c. My meaning is not in regard of the aggregation and combi¬ nation of the particular. Churches to make one aggregated combined integral: for fo indeed the Church-CathoUek puts on the notion of orta. But I meant it firft in regard the parti¬ cular Congregations are made up of, and arife out of the mem¬ bers of the Church-Entitive or of vifible beleevers, which are the matter thereof. And whereas it is obje&ed againft this, that that Church is no political body, haply never had the fight or knowiedg one of another : never entred into agree¬ ment of government one with another: and are wholly defti- tute, according to reafon, and all rules of the Gofpel, of all Church- priviledges, Surv p.287. I anfwer, the Church indeed lo considered is no a&ual polity, yet it is an integral, and it is vifible in regard of the perfons, covenant, laws, and protefil. on. As all thefubjc&s of the Kingdom of England are an in¬ tegral in reference to the King and Laws, though they ihould fora time want infedourOfficers, and though they bee not in particular combinations, and fo are deflitute of the particular priviledges, and have no particular Officers to difpenfc God’s Ordinances to them conftancly, yet have they right by reafon and Scripture rules to all the Ordinances of God, as well as baptifm, and they covenant to fubmit to all God’s Ordinances even thofe of difeipline, and are habitually under the habitual power of the Minifters office, and are capable of ccnfures, as : onelythey want the opportunity of enjoying them conftantly by particular Officers of their own. The right of an Englifh man to the priviledges of the La ws,doth not arife by beeing a&ually under fuch and fuch particular offi¬ cers in a corporation, &c. but by beeing members of the King¬ dom. So is the right of vifible beleeveis to Church-priviledges, by being Chrifts vifible fubje&s. Secondly, the particular converts are brought into Chrifts Kingdome by the Chureh-Cacholick vifible already in beeing s and fp/citually conquered and fubdued by them toChrift : they are the fruits and fuccefs of theit Miniftry, asOrgani- K k cal ? • / - -- - 1 .i ■ -- 25 *_ Quefl. 2, That the Church-Catholick^, meal, Chrifts Miuifters are their Ipiritual fathers, and they are Children born to the Church, and arc added to the Church. Thirdly, the Church doth initiate them, and minifterially convey the priviledges to the converts, by enrowling them as free-men of the Church by Bapcifm, and minifterially ordai- ing officers over them, and fo maketh them organical alfo, and adding them into combination with thtmfelvs : and this cannot bee done as they are particular Officers, for fo, they are not to them, Therefore as general, and.it is to bee accounted an aft of the Church-Catholick, as hath been (hewed before* Ch. ij, StB, 4 . And though in a conftant, permanent cr continuous integral^ whofc particular members rife and fall together with the v. hole, fo that it cannot confift but of fo many neceffiiry integral, in- dividual parts whereof it is conftituted. There the whole, and the parts whereof it doth confift, as theyftandin relation unto one another muft bee fimul; yet the Church-Catholick beeing. (as I may (ay) a kinde of dijcreet 3 Jttccejfive , indefinite integral^ alwaies tranfient, and infinx, fome members beeing alwaies in their adding, and fome alwaies in departing, fo that in refpeft of the particular parts it is notone hour every way the fame it was the former, I fay, that in reference to the members that are to bee added, the whole muft needs bee accounted firft, becaufe it is conftituted and hath a beeing entitive and organ!- cal before the addition , and the members born or converted muft needs bee firft added to the whole, before they can bear the relation of parts unto it. And herein the Church is like unto a Corporation, whole firft members whereof it was conftituted wer c fimul natura & tempore with the whole, yet all the mem¬ bers t hat are added fucceffively, finde it a Corporation before thdr addition : and fo it is with. the fucceffive members of the Church Catholick. Cbje&. That which belongs to a fimilar body or integral, quh tale , it doth not arife from the integrality, but from the nature which is common to the whole, and fo it agreeth to it primarily, quit tale 3 non qua tetwn , five integrum: fo though %h and fuch priviledges and Ordinances bejongto the whole Church is the prime Church* Ghu?ch-Catholick:y«c it is not primarily,le, and that relation is primary to him, yet the particular rela- * tion Some Corollaries drawn from the Ihefu. lion hee ftands in to a particular Congregation, giveth him a ? more immediate efpecial call, and charge to adminifterthe Qr- dinances of God conftantly to them. 2. Any lingle Minifter by vertue of his cffice hath power mi- nifterially to admita member into th^Church-Gatholick vifi«~ ble,if hce bee fit. 3. Although the eleftion of a Minifter to a particular Con¬ gregation bee an aft olliberty in the people, yet . his miffion is > trom Chrift prima. ily and minifterially by the Presbytery* 4. He doth not adminifter the Ordinances of God in the name of the Congregation as their fervant, but asthe fervantof Chrift. As a Mayor in a Corporation though cholera by the peo* pie, yet executeth his Office in the Kings name. 5. If hee adminiftreth any Ordinances out of his ownCon^ gregation, hee doth it not as a gifted brother, but by vertue.©f his office, 2 Cor. 5. 20. And the like may bee fatd of their dif- penfation of Ordinances to members of other Congregations that come to their Congregations. 6 . Although the particular flock over which a Minifter was (et be diflblved, yet hee ceafeth not to bee a Minifter, becaufe the Church to which hee bare firft relation is not diflblved, which is, theCatholick. 7. The Elders of feveral particular Congregation* as thcy r may exercife the keys of their office divifim , in their feveral Com gregatione, fo they may exercife them oonjun in corabinati- oinsjif they bee called thereunto. Concerning private member 1. Particular converts arc firft converted into the Church-Ca- tholick Entieive, and fecondarlly conjoyned into particular con- foci at ions, for the more opportune enjoyment of Oidinances aftuallyand conftantly* 2. Every member of a particular Congregation is a member; of the Church-Catholick Entitive, and that relation doth pri¬ marily belong unto him. 3. External proftffion of the true faith, and fubjeftion to God’s Ordinances, is enough to maka man capable of bee- Ing a member of cf\c Church-Catholick vifible, and fo alio of a particular. An application to the whole Thefts. a particular Congregation) ^^ extemamfcrmam- 4, By Baptifm member* are vifibly and minifterially admit¬ ted into the Church-Catholick vifible. 5. By excommunication rightly adminiftred an offender is caftoutof the Church**Catholick vifible, as much as out of a particular Congregation. 6. Federal holinefs belongs to none primarily, becaufe born of members of a particular Congregation, but of the Church- Gatholick. 7. They that are onely in the Church-Catholick vifible, are not without in the Apoftiea fcnfe. 8. Children of believing parents have right to Baptifm, though their parents were nos members of any particular Con¬ gregation, and are debarred from their due, if denied it. 9. Every vifible beleever is or ought to bee a member of the particular Church, wherein and among whom hee dwelleth. 10. The beeing in the general Covenant gives right to the Ordinances, and not any particular Covenant, neuherdo wee finde any mention in Scripture of any particular Covenant either urged or ufed at ad milfion of members into a particular Congregation, or at the Conftituticn thereof. 11. The invifible members of the Church which have inter* ml communion with Chrift, are alfo vifible members, and have external communion in external Ordinances. 12. The departure of a member from a particular Congrega¬ tion, and removal to another for convenience, or by neceffity, is no fin, but departing from the Church-Catholick, and ceafing to bee a member therof, is a fin* I know it is not ufual to make ufes and applications to Thefes of this nature, and fhouid I enter thereinto, I might drown my felf in forrow,to bewaile the rents, not in Chrifts feamelefs coat, but in his body the Church, which Chrift preferred in fome regards before his natural body, for hee affumed his natural body for their fakes, an d was willing to bee crucified for their fakes. The divifions of the Church are of three forts, in judgment, in affe&ion, and in way or pra&ice. For 25? _ Some Corollaries drawn from the Thefi /. For judgment, Firft come the Romifis , and they rend away c « q the fecond Commandment : then come the Anti-Sabbatanans> e ' * and they rend away the Fourth , though placed in the heart of the Decalogue, and Co extraordinarily fenced by God, and a Memento fet before it,and fo many arguments after ir.then come the Antinomians , and they pluck away the whole Law from us, denying it both punitive, coa&ive, and directive power, and fo render it wholly dead and ufelefie to Chriftians : then come the Socinians , and they quench the Deity ofChrift, and the ho¬ ly Ghoft, and deny our redemption by the blood of Ghrift, and fo confcquently would deprive us of the benefit of the New Te« ftament .• then come the Anabaptifls , and they deny and deride our Baptifm, and render us and our children no better then hea¬ thens j then come the Separates , and they would pluck up our Church by the roots, and call us Rome, Mgypt 9 Soiom^ Babylon , and fo confequcntly call their mother Whore ; for if they have had any converfion, they had it in the bofome of our Church. Of whom that is too true which the Pfalmift faith, Pfal. 50. 20. Thou fittefl and ffeakefl againfi thy brother , and hafi jlandered thine own mothers [on. Then come the Anti- Scriptures, and they ca¬ rrier both Old and New Teftament* And then come the Anti- 'Trinitarians , and they blafpheme the whole Trinity: And then come the Famihfis i and they leave the fure rule of the Word,and truft to Satanical delufions and revelations* Yea, there be others of our honoured and beloved brethren s whom I forbear to name among the former; who, though they acknowledge us true Churches, yet deny us to be one Church, and would have us rent into a thoufand pieces and parcels, and thefe to ftand as fo many entire, compleac bodies, without any coordination, as fo many Spoufcs ofChrift, as fo many Queens appointing their own orders and Officers, with liberty to cenfure both Officers and members within themlelves, by the votes of the whole body; and not to be accountable unto any Churches as coordinate members, except arbitrarily. Not endeavouring with us to reform our Churches, but to gather Churches out of our Churches, by gathering our beft members i>ut of our Churches, and uniting them into feveral bodies by a particular Covenant,though diftant far in habitation. But it the U cream Some Corollaries drawn from the 7 hefts. cream of our Gongrega ions be fleeted oft, our wheat tranfplan- ted by ic fclf into other mens fields, who Cowed it not;, ©ur fattcft ffieep gathered into mens folds 5 it will be very fad for God’s Miniflers to have none butth^tares,andgoats,and lees,and dregs of men left them to look after. Others would wreft the Keys of the Church out of the hands of the Church-Officers, and hang them at the girdle of the civil Magiftrate ; but feeing God made civil and Ecclelnftical Officers differing in kind, the one entrufted with a civil Magiftraey, the other with an Ecclefiaftical Miniftry, as it is an ufurpation for the Church-officers, as fuch, to claim the power of the Magi" ifrateffo I fear it will prove but facrilege for the civil Magiftrate, as fuch, to claim the power of the Miniftry. If 'nttvobiume !a was fo great a fault, I fear U 3 u F I N I S. *^#*♦##******#****4* AN- Addition or Poftfcript To THE 1 VINDICATION ♦ OF THE ESSENCE and UNITY OE THE Church'Catholick vifible. And the Priority thereof in regard of Particular CmrRGHESe In anfwerto the Ob)e&ions made againft it ? both by M r stone 9 and fome others. By Samuel Hudson, Minilter of the Gofpei at Capeli in Suff. Ecclejiam leneo tritico & paled plenary^mendo quos p'ojjum^ tolero quos emendate non pojjunt : fugio paleam 5 ne hoc Jim y non aream y ne nihilfim. Aug. Ep« 48. contra Don* LONDON , Printed by J. B . for Andrew Ken/he , and are to be fold at his fhop neer S. Margarets hill in Southward and by Ed « ward Brewfler at the Crane in Paul's Church-yard, and Thomas Bajfet under Dunftmes -Church ,Fleetjlreet , 16 58. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. Chriftian Reader! isfecond imprejfion of the Vindication of the SI Efence and Unity of the Church -Catholic k$ vifible, 8cc, came to the birth altogether with¬ out my knowledge of the Stationer, or his in• -•. , tention, and without his knowledge of me,and mine intention : and it wasfo far pa fed in the Vrefs before I knew of it, that there was no recalling of it. lhad another Copy of it almofi ready for the Profs, wherein I had given anfwer to M.Stone,andfome other opponents in their proper places in the Bookj Alfo I had obliterated the name of my antient friend U. Ellis 5 who had written in oppoftion to my firjl Thefts upon this queflion, and had left out all perjonall reflections upon him, to which I was in a manner, necejjitated in my former imprejfion to vindicate myfelf 5 and therefore / mufl crave his indulgence for this imprejjion, the coming out whereof (ft as it is ) being wholly againji my minde ♦ The Book ' ving met withfome oppoftion, and that in Print,fromfom? reverend brethren, I thought not fit to let this imprejfion of it pajs into the world^witbout taking notice of what was ob - jeZfed againil it, and therefore am conf rained to play A 7 an To the Reader 3 &c. an after-game, and to add iheflfew fleets as a Foflfcript therennto, I have not as yet,met with any thing in print,which fionld caufe me to alter my judgment about the main fubjeft of the Boo 4 5 and yet I dare not fay but ft ? me pajfages in it , may be carped at, and are liable to exceptions again ft jfor I am but a frail man,and fee but in part, and foam fubjeff to erre, as well as others yet am willing to be reclaimed in whatfoever 1 mijlake at any time, and would not willingly bee mifled, much lefs mif-lead others» Thejubjeft isfomething knotty and difficulty and not apt to be under flood by every Reader, and therefore let him that readeth confiderit well , thatfo he may understand, and not pafs a cenfure raflly upon it before he under{lands it. That the Lord would guide thee an d me into all truth, is the pray* $r of Chrifis worth lefs flrvant, S a Mu e t Hudson* i s. I THE VINDICATION OF THE Eflence and Unity OF THE Church-Catholick vifible, &C. Ince theiirft publifhingoftbc fame, which was 1649. hath met with various enter¬ tainment amongft men, according to the various judgments of the readers thereof; as Books of polemical fubjc&s, fuch as this is, ufe to do. From feme it obtained acceptation andapprobatiofi 5 from others it met with improbation, and oppofition* Two things efpecially have been oppofed therein. Firft,the being of an universal vifible Church, which is • the fubje& of thefecond and third Chapters of this Vindication, and the former Chapter proving it by Scripture, the latter by arguments and reafons. Secondly, the integrality of the univer- fal vifible Church, handled in the fourth Chapter is oppofed. A 3 The: An Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing The efTenceor beingof it, is oppofed lately In print, by Tome Minifters in Norfolk^ znd Suffolk^ in their anfwer to Jus T>tvi- num Mimflerii EvAngelicly fet forth by the Provincial! Aflemoly in London* and to Vmdicta Afiniflerii Evangelic i, fet forth by M. John Callings of Norwich . But becaufe this was not the main fcope of their book, only they lighted upon it in their Epiftle Dedicatory; I (ball leave them to their proper opponents, and only anfwer to what they fay in their Epiftle concerning this fubjeft. The integrality of the univerfall vilible Ghurch hath beenoppokd by M, Stone, a reverend Minifter and teacher to the Church of Chrift at Hart for din New-Engla nd, and my an¬ cient acquaintance. And this was in a tractate, called. A Con¬ gregational Church is a Catholick^ Churchy which came forth in print, 1652. To whom I never intended to recurnan anfwer in any particular Treatife,partly becaufe 1 faw his book was on¬ ly a logical Le&ure, and of fo abftrufe and fublime a fubjeft,that as it was little taken notice of, fo it was lefs underflood by any, but thole fchollarg that were verfed in thofe fludies, and fo muft mine anfwer have been alfo, And partly becaufe he only or cheifly oppofed the arguments which 1 fet down in my fourth Chapter, and dealt not with the whole book, or the main fcope of my Vindication, or queftion: and therein alfo oppofed only ihofe arguments which I brought againft M- Ellis, which Were taken from principles and grounds which I knew M. Ellis grant¬ ed, which was warrant fufficient for to me ufe them, though M. Stone granted them not. And in them alfo M* Stone miftook my meaning,for by my denying the univerfai Church to bea genus ,1 did not deny it to anexiflinggenus^orgenus in attu exercito^ which M.Stone argued for;for I knew though it were an integral,it muft be of onekinde or other, but I denyed that it could put on the notion or conlideration of a Ghurch in.genere , So, that my queftion about the integrality of the univerfai Church was no whit impaired by his arguments, though they had all been granted, only thofe arguments taken neceftarily from principles granted by M. Ellis might have been invalidated thereby. And partly becaufl faw that M.S/0#edidimplicitely grant what I con¬ tended for, which was, that the univerfai Church is not th egenus of particular Congregations, in that he aftigneth another gettus Vindication of the C hurch- Catholic^ vijtble , &c. to them in the frontifpice ofhis book, and upon the topof every page in his book, and that is Congregation in genere. But I in¬ tended that if ever this vindicationffiould again com to thePrefs, 1 would have explained my meaning more fully, and that I meant by genits Church tn genere, and not the integral nature of the genus that exifteth in individuals, and fo to have inferted an anfwer to M. Stone In that my fourth Chapter, which now I am prevented in,by this furreptitious coming forth of this fecond edition without my knowledge,and therefore I have added this Poftfcript. T firft therefore (hall clear chat there is a Church-Ca- tholick viilble. Some of our brethren which have lately written, tell us that a particular Church is a particular company of Saints in mutual] union, for Itmtuall worffiip appointed by Chrift for the glory of God, and the edification of their own fouls, and the good of o- thers. I intend not to carp, but (hall give as candid an interpre¬ tation as may be oftheir words. I fuppofe by Saints they mean vifibie Saints,Saints by dedication and confecration, and not abfolutely of Saints by regeneration, for as they have no certain rules to judge thereof in others, fo alfo they can never be fare they are in a true Church, but will flill be fcrupulous in their communion, and cannot difpenfe or communicate in faith, but doubtirgly. They are alfo very tender in expreffing the form,or as fome will have it,the Cement of this particular fociety, and therefore have left out the word Covenant, either explicite or implicite ; and fo I hope they intend to let in parochial Con¬ gregations into the definition, though not independenr 5 for there is fuch a mutual union among them. For mutual worfbip, I fuppofe they mean joining in publ’ck worship,and not as we fpeak of mutuall duties between man and wife, to be performed to each others, but worfhip performed by them jointly to God a But I marvell that this definition menti¬ ons not any relation of this particular Church to fome officer or officers to whom they fhould fubje£t themfelves, and by whom they ffiould be taughc,edified,*and governed i and fhould be Gods mouth to them, and their mouth to God. I am loth to be too bold or peremtory in gueffingat their meaning: but hap- Jy it is becaufe they intend to put the keys of difcipline into the 4 vin Addition or Foftfcript to the foregoing bi dy ot this Congregation*, which can cxercife them without of- hcersjor becaufe they can let up un-ordained private members to preach and pray among them,and To make up their mutual wor- ihip alfb without an officer or Ambaflad ur of Chrift, to whom is committed the word of reconciliation ; for indeed that is the fcope of their book, though they do acknowledge that there ought to be filch officers : or haply they feared to be unchurched again by the death of fuch an officer, iftheyhad put him into their definition. They fay alfo that the end of this mutual union is for the edification of thdr own fculs,bnt that muff imply them all truly converted ; but I mervail that they make no provifion in their definition,for the education,inftru&ion, and converfion of children born members of their Congregation, and fervants of their members, feeing by Gods appointment, and the ufage in Old and New Teftament, the parent or matter brings his whole familyinco covenant aswel as himfelfi-and a partof the Minifters office is to go to the loft (beep of the houfe of Ifrael^o convert uncon¬ verted petfons,as well as edifie converted. They fay nothing al¬ fo of their mutual infpettion and watching over one another, for which this way is fo highly cryed up above others: haply it is becaufe their members dwel fo far remote, in fo many parishes, that they fee it is impoflible to do it. />.4. 12. 1 Tim. 1. 12. And hath not the Minilter the lame fubjeft and objeft that the Miniftry hath, feeing the Mini¬ ftry is committed to him, IfaMinifter of the Church in England baptize a con¬ verted Jew, Turk, or heathen, he doth not do it as a Mmifkr of a particular Congregation, or of the Church in England^ but as an indefinite Officer of Chrift, to whom he hath committed that employment .* and fo the office reacheth that foreigner, not as a member of the Church in England 9 for fohe never was, and haply never will be, but as a new fubjeft added to Chrift’s vifible Kingdom^ Secondly,! ffial ffiew that the univerfal Church is an integral, and not Church in gen ere. But before I enter upon this Chapter, which hath been oppo- fed in print by M« Stone a reverend Minifter in New -England \ it will be requisite for me to premifelomthing in general, md then anfwer his particular ObjefUons.againrt the feveral arguments as they liein order. It was mine unhappinefs to fall into the hands of two reve¬ rend Divines,whofe principles of Logick,andj?fpecially concer¬ ning Genus ^ were different from each other; and fo while I pro¬ ved the univerfal Church to be no genm accordir^g to the princi¬ ples and exprefs grants of the former in his Vindici£ Catholic a which 1 cited, who was an Ar'tflotelian ; the other undemanding genw in another fenfe, being a Ramift 9 oppofech my a gnmen&s, denying the Arijhtelian.pnwciplzty which the former wenc up¬ on and granted, whereas it was fufficient for one to prove the univerfal Church not to be a genus by his own principles whom 1 anfwered. So it fareth with me, as 1 have feen it with a Country man in An Addition or Poftfcrtpt to the foregoing in a crowd, who bung ftricken a box on one ear, and turning himfelf to lee who ftruck him,andto defendhimfelf onthat hand, was ftricken by another on the other ear, and fo was fain to turn again to defend himfelf on that fide alfo. M. Ellis took genus to be a logical or metaphyfical abftra& non-exifting notion, as he acknowledges in print, and upon his own grant: I dealt with him; M. Stone tstketh genus to be an exifting being, ap¬ pearing, and fhewing his face in every individual, whether wee fee it or no,and thereupon difputes againft my arguments,other- wife then M. Ellis could have done, and fo puts me upon a new Vindication, by denying the principles upon which my argu¬ ments were built, which principles the former granted freely. If I had thought the word genus would have met with fuch oppo* fition, 1 (hould have fet down my meaning more warily, and tor genus have fet genera!, or in ^enere , or in general consideration, which was my meaning, and fo he whom 1 anfwered unde; (toed it, and M. Stone might have feen that was my meaning The paucity of words, and multitude of things is the cauie why the fame word is ufed for many things, and fo is taken in a different fen(e,and fo it falls out in the word genus , for C mtimes it fignifieth a Stock, Linage, Parentage, Kindred, or Family as M.Srwein his Tra&ate,p. 2. from^#,4,6. and Phti.^.^. notes. And fomtime it is taken for that common nature which exifteth in the individuals, as humane nature in Peter and Paul, and animal in man and brute, &c, ftnd fomtime it fignifyethan ab- ftratt notion arifing from this community of nature, or a thing ingenere, or general confederation, and in that fenfe M. Ellis took it,and fo I formed my arguments in his own fenfe. But concerning the exifting£ between an cxifting genus and that thing confidered in genere. The individual animal exifteth } but a- nimal in genere exifteih not but in the underftanding. There is rsiftence in every thing, but where dwells exigence tn genere > Concretes exift, but where do abftrafts exift ? I will not con¬ tend whether univerfals be entiarealta , or entia rationis y becatife there is a foundation for them in ente realiy but they are not formally one but by abftraftion. Indeed in reference toother genus s a genus is capable of nu¬ merical unity j Ens is one^raw ,and fubftance is one genus &c. Ca but jin Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing but in reference to particulars exifting. under them, you can¬ not fay there is one genu* in Socrates , and another in Plato, for numerical unity in the ftri&eft lenfe is proper to individuals as integrals. But I will not contend with M. Stone about thefe notions of exifting or extrafted^ew&f.’r, 1 (hall leave it to younger head* which have been more lately verfed in thofe ftudies. But if you take genusfior the exifting plyficafpoliticaf mathematical, or arti¬ ficial gene's as M. Stone doth, thtn it is importable to deny any thing in the world to be a genus, for it is of one kinde or other. And by that notion every imegral is nothing elfe but a ciufier of genus's bound together by the laft individual form : and fo we may make every thing not onely a genuses ut a heap of genus's-, and fo a man hath more genus's, in him, then he hath limbs, fences, and faculties. For there is Eks, fubftance, body, vivens, and animal befides humanity : and then every limb, and fenfe, and faculty,have limb, and fenfe, and faculty kinde in it. There is head kinde, and foot kinde, and arm kinde, and leg kinde, &c. and after hisconftitution,he isdrelfed up with no¬ thing but genus's from head to foot. And by the like reafoning every thing (hould be as full of genus's ac ever it can hold* M, Stone could not think that I did deny this fort of genus to be in the univerfal Church, for I clearly expreffed fo much Vi,nd , p. 8 2. ct Indeed if you conlider this fociety or religion, it is a diftintt a man may make a par¬ ticular Church an individual Church, a Church that is one nu¬ merically to be a Catholick Church, for all thefe may be predi¬ cated of every Congregational Church, and that ehentially as they are fuch, And foa man may fay an individual man is a Ca¬ tholick man, an individual horfe a catholick horfe, an indivi¬ dual houTe a catholick houfe, an individual eye a catholick eye, an individual foot a catholick foot, becaufe individual may be predicated ofall thefe, and that eflentially as fuch. And fa we may make hie homo to betheg?##r ofall the men ia the world, becaufe it may be predicated of evesy naan. Andfo we may fet An Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing individual, and mum numero above Ens the higheft genus of all* becaufe every E ns is individual and mum numero , if it doth exift. And fo genus fhall be a pretty Proteus . Omnia transformat fefe in miracula return. And every man dial be an individual particular general Cathoiick man. * There is a fecond thing about which M Atone beftoweth much pains in his book to invalidate this chapter, and that is to prove that individua are fpecies. I am not willing to contend with him about the logomachy and the rather becaufe though it crof- leth fomething laid in this, chapter, yet it invalidates not the caufeat all. That there is an eflential predication of that which Logicians call fpectes infima , and h t genus isofimum upon the individuals, fo that it doth the office of a genus thereunto cannot be denied, and therefore as it refpe&s the individuals it is called fpecies prtdica • bilisy as the other, as they refpeft the fuperiour genus are called fpecies fub)icibilis y Burgerfd> For the Logicians carrying the name fpecies no lower then ab- drad natures which have fame univerfality in them, though the lowed that may be and neered individualsjdid not account indi¬ viduals to be fpecies, for though univerfals may be diftributed lowerand lower intolefs univerfals; yet are not,in their opinion diftributed into fpecies fingulareSy or into feveral integrals, which are a totum of another oppofite nature. But they conceive genus to be naturamivcrfalior fub qua alia minks umverfalls contmetur Keeker m 0 and fpecies to 6e natura univerfalis alteri univerfaliori fub)eUan and the lowed fpecies to be that which hath obtained the lowed and urmoftperieftion among the univerfals uhimum untverfalium . And indeed there is a difference between fpeeies and ind-wduum. Quamvisfpectes confervari potejl in uno wdividuo t genus tamen non poteft confervari in una fpecie, Burgerfd, 45. So that as M, Stone confeflet'h that animal was not a ccmpleat genus untill man was made, vet nun was compleat as foon as Adam was made. Again, they fay that fpecies Kir lo'i&v perfetlior efl genere^ fed indhiduum non efl koct' leixi perfect ms (ua fpecie, i%e. man is more perfed in regard of dfence then animal, that is, hath a further perfedion added to him then was in animal, yet Socrates is Vindication oj the Chmck*Catholic\ viable, &c. u r ^ )t * n efience then man in general. The [pedes hath the integral nature of th egcnus^ and befides that it hath an ejcnual difference perfe&iRg it, and thrufiing it on a degree fur- thei,but the individual hath nofiicheflential difference added to the loweft fpecies to perfcCt that, or thiuft it on further, but the fpecies ejfenttam ejus abfolvit 5 it bath nothing but individu¬ ality and exiftence added,when by it becomes an integral, there is no enential perfecting part found in onethat is not found in another, but only the foul and body of Peter is not the foul and body of Patti. And for ought I know he may make the animal, lubltancr, and Em in Peter , differ as much from th eammaj fub • ltance, and £»j in Paul, as the humane nature in Peter from that which is in Paul, feeing they are all alike under con¬ traction , as well as the humane nature, and fo make feveral Jpecies of them alfo. Gmw is hke a Bell thatringethour,andftrikeson both fides, and 10 Ens or being in general ftrikes double, it is either primum^ vel a prime or turn j d primo or turn is doubl e,fnbfiantia i velacci^ dens ; fabjlantia is double, corporea , vel incorporea jive[piritualis; corporea is double, [implex^ velmijhz j mifia is double, vivens$ non v j ve} ™ j vivens is double, vegetative vel fenjitiva ; / enjitiva is double, homojvelbrnturn ; and then you are fallen as low as uni- verlals go, which the Logicians commonly make the loweft fp$° 5 and then the Bell,as it were falls into a Tingle touting of tndmduals, which are ftroaks of the fame fide, and man found- eth Peter^Paujjohn^Robert j fo that the peal of genus's that ftruck double before, at Jaft when they are fallen as low as theycah chime, ftrokes on the fame fide.-and indivi- ua s differ no more from one another, thenTingle ftrokes of the oell one from another. Genpts bears twinns which are oppofitc, nay contrary one to the other, and fo ftrugglein the womb, like Efait and Jacob , of two contrary natures, hairy and fmooth, but the loweft fpecies beareth only fingle Children of the fame nature. .. ^^ man * n bis mind travells from or being which is the *§ wgemtsj^c finds it divide prefently into two oppofite ways, one as it were on the right hand, the other on the left, vfe, fub- D ftance An Addition or Yofifctipt to the foregoing fiance and accident 5 if he will trace the one way viz,, fubftance, he Andes it presently divided again into twooppoAce way?, viz,. Corporeal, Spiritual * if he traceth Corporeal, he Andes it di¬ vide again immediately into Ample, and mixt; if he traceth mxt,he Andes it divide into that which hath life,and that which bath none \ it he traceth that which hath life, it divideth imme¬ diately into vegetative and fenfitive; it he traceth fenntive,it di¬ videth immediately into man and brute , now if he will trace man, he Andes him no more to divide as the former into oppoAte perfc&ing differences,thrufting that nature on further, but he goes on Irom generation to generation, ftill the fame in kinde and eflence, like a right on path, that goes further and further, but divideth not into crofs paths. Or to make the fimilitude more full, it leadeth him out into a plain or heath where are ma¬ ny ways to ride a breft in, but they all come from the fame head, and lead to the fame town .* and diefe are the individuals which proceed from the loweft fp:cies 3 but divide not into lower differ¬ ing perfecting fpecies. So that though they agree with other fpecies, in that they are comprehended by iomething more general, and that is predicated on them, yet they are not predicated upon any inferiours; they may be cut in pieces into members, but not diftributed into further perfe&ing diftinguifh- ingeftentiai forms- r So that call individuals,//^*/, or what you will, yet you fee they are not like other fpecies. And to piove them to b tfpeaes 3 M. Stone makes them net di- verfa qua fold ratione dijfentiunt 3 i. e. though all men have humane n ature, yet they are not the fame : Eut oppojita qua re & ratione dijfentiunt. And truly if it were ever true of men, it is true in our age, where almoft every man is oppoAte to each other j Quot homines , tot fententia. But this is not an effential but accidental oppofition. And though he cannot make them contraries, Quo¬ rum umm uni opponitur, yet he makes them Difparata , Quorum tt* num mult is partter opponitur • By reafon of their diftinft forms and dfences .• well,be it fo,but then he muft make two or three kindes of Difparata. For formerly we were wont to account things that are under divers genus s to be difparata , as hmo 3 arbor 3 lapis: ©r intermedia te different Jptcies under the fame genus, as yellow, blew* - T - -i, -fri- ~ i- »n r M | — 1 fi, | , - . • Vindication of the Church-Catholick. vifible$Lz. a £ blew, green, red,under colour, asM. 6 acknowledged}^. 26. But by this opinion the feveral yellows,bkws,greens, and reds 9 are %.&ch of difparata to themfelvcs, and fo are oppofite to them- felve§ though dyed in the fame fatt at the fame time. And by the fame reafon he may fay that every thred of a cloth both warp and woof of the fame cloth are oppofite colours,and every pun- ttum ofeveryoneof thofe'threds are of an oppofite colour. I fhould rather have faid that they arethat unum multis par iter affimil atur ^potius quam opponitur. But I (hall let him enjoy his notion, becaufe it hurteth me not. He ykldeth the confe¬ rence of this opinion23. that there are fo many fpecies of water, wine, or milk, as there are drops of them in the whole world; and fo a hundred ihoufand fpecies of water in a pail full of water, and thefe have all oppofite elfential forms, and yet are fimilars which is as much as to fay, they have fimilar, oppofite efiential forms, Gravia bellafratrum. But what if the individuals be fpectes, yea fo many genus's, yea comprehend a bundle of genus’s in the belly of every one of them, as by this Logick they muft. Will this be any hinderance that many of thefe individuals may be brought into one in¬ tegral ? £uppofe every brick hath brick-kinde, and body -kinde, and I iubftance-kinde, and£w-kindein it 5 yet may not an hundred thoufand of thele bricks make one brick-houfe 5 and a hundred thoufand tiles make one tiled roof; and a thoufand pieces of timber make one timber-houfe; and many individual men be in one family, one town, one army, one Kingdom, or Common¬ wealth ? So may many individual vrifible believers be in one Congregation, and many Congregations of them bee in one Claflis, and many Glaflis in one Province/and many Provinces be in one Nation. And all the Chriftian Nations in the world be one univerfal vifible Church, and that be an integral. When the firftGofpel* Church (which might be called general or Catholick in contradiftin&ion to the National Church of the Jews;and becaufe then the partition wal between jew and Gen¬ tile was broken down,and the cSmiffion ififued forth for teaching all Nations and baptizing them) grew too big to meet in one D 2 place ■An Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing place for all Ordinance* v it dividcd.it fclf into many lefs Affem- plies, called, though improperly and at fecond hand, Churches, yet then this djvifion was of an integral into its members, not ot a genus or general into its fpecies. I acknowledge the master of the vifible Church militant uni- verfal, or vifible K'ngdotnof Chrift on earth, to be the particu¬ lar vilible believers,\nd the txternalformthereof to be their joint fubmitti' g unto Chrift's regiment and laws under his Officers where they dwell, but this whole Church when it comes to bee divided, it is< confidered sccording to the p ? aces where thole members dwell, either in England, Scotland, Ireland, or New- England, &c.and fo receive particular denomination from thofe places;, but this divifion is of an integral into its members, as the parts refpeft the whole, and of adjuncts into their fubjeft places if they be conddered in reference to the places wherein they are contained. Look at the Church ingeneft, faith M. Caw drey, vind>c. vindt- ciarum, and the /Ingle members are the caufes thereof as an integral,but look on ( it inanalyfi, in the diftribution of-it into Congregations,and fo it giveth effence unto them, and they are par cells of that greater integral. Though in the conftitur tion of an integral, the paresane before the whole, as the effen- tial caufes thereof, yet jn the djftribution the whole is before the part*, Cawd.p. 8?»... And whereas I had proved that the univerfal Church is not a genus fix .Church ingenere, becaufe it doth exift, or hath an indi¬ vidual exigence of its own,which a thii g in genet e hath not^i^d. 79. A 8.. To this argument M. Stone anfwers,by affirming that genus doth exift. But when he comes to prove it, he proves only that the integral nature of the genus doth exift in the indivi¬ duals, and leaves us from them to abftraft the gems ,which is an univerfal, but proves not that the umveifal dqthexiftany where, but in the mind of man, or Angel.. Now as it doth exift in the fe- vet;al individuals, ft is contra&^d, and is an integral, and nruft be loofed from his contra&ion by ahftra&ion, before it can be a logical genus, or tha" thing $on&dcied in genere. This is as if he.fficuld fav,ae it is an integeal it is a which he^coDfefleth differs vtry much. There is that which may be ab- firafted Vindication of the £ htirch- Cathohck^ vifible, &c. drafted, but it doth not exift as abftrafle i but z% contracted. So I may in my minde confider a prifoner that is bound with many chains, without h ; s chains,and fo a frec-man, but l dare not fay he exifteth a tree- man. I can abftraft a man from his riches,learn¬ ing, piety, nobility, that is endued with them, but l cannot fay he exifteth fo. Where a thing in genere 3 or general notion, or general coniideration doth cxilb but in the underftanding, I, as yet know not- Moreover as fuch a nature doth txiftih individuals, it is ma- nifold, but as I have abftraCfccdit, it is but one. As it doth exift in individuals each differ from other ( as Stone acknowledg¬ ed ) re & ratione 3 and by his own Logick all thofe individuals are oppohtes, and fo diftentaiiie?,noiv dijfentaneum e(l quadra re dtjfenutt but,one is rot a dijfentame^mch Itfsan oppolite to itfelf. Now genus is one jbecaufe it is totum quod habet fanes. 7 herefore you muft divert it of ex' ftency, before you can con- rtder it as a genus 3 or general, or thing ingenere. And to apply it to the whole Church in reference to the mem¬ bers of it: the whole Church hath an exiftence of its own,as an integral, being indtviduum i as Ames c.infefleih, but as M- Stone's genus hz th noexiftence,but in the fpecies .The cxiftenceof the whole Church refulteih from the conjoined exiftence of the members, but thetxiftence of a genus is abftia&ed from th tfpectes .. The whole Oecumenical vtlible Church hath no fpecies or indi¬ vidual Churches under it,whereof it’s the£e»«r;bue is made up of r individual vifjbk believers, and (hen divided into ftveral pieces or parcel! ,which we call particular Congregations Ukeapiece of ice divided or marked out into many little pieces ; the great , piece of ice is not t\xt genus of them, but the integral, and they are the members-Though the whole Ocean werefrozen it would make but a great integral, and the fev p. 79. 1 . 30, that 'Quodhabet partes extra panes eft totmn integrate, M- Stone denies it to be a t rue definition, lanfwerl had it out of Burgerfodicius p. 47. and 1 conceive he defines it fo in oppofition to that which he calls totum ejfentiale, tjttod cot-fiat ex materia & forma, for there the pa< ts do mutuo fo pervadere y & lcco,& fitnmn different, as the foul and body in man, but the parts of an inte¬ gral qua integral do differ in both. But to make the Argument paft his exceptions, I (hall change onely one word, and in that change only exprefs Burgerfod ■ his meaning more clearly. Quod habet membra extra membra efi totum integrate, fed ecctefia nniver - [alts vifibilis habet , 8cc. Ergo . The univerfai Church hath its members one diftinft and feveral belide and without each other, whether youconlkbr them to be particular believers, which are the prime member?, or Congregations, &c. which are fecon- dary. And whereas I had faid in my third Argument that the whole Church is made up of the 'vifible believers in particular Congre¬ gations,and of fuch as are not fixed members in any particular Congregation, vtnd-p. 80/. 17. M. Srcwanlwemh,That individual Chiidians which are not members of any particular Congregationiare not fo. mally po¬ litical Church* members. Now if by political Church* members he means actual members of this or that particular Congregati¬ on it is true, but they are political members of the Chiirch-Ca- tholick vifible, for they have taken Chi ift to be their King, and his laws to rule them, they are enrowled by baptilme, and at¬ tend on Chrifts Ordinances, and fubjeft themfelves to his Mini- fters, where they btcome, though fomeoccafion may not Buffer them to be fixed in a particular Congregation. They are poli¬ tical members of Chrifis vifible Kingdom primarily, by being members of the Church-Cathoilck, thememberffiipin particu¬ lar Congregations isfecondary, and but accidental to the for¬ mer. He faith they are members mat erialtttrnon footmaliter, be- . caufe they are not confederate. But I anfwer, they are confede¬ rate i m e* in Covenant with Chrift the .head and King of the Church, ‘Vindication of the C harch-C at holick^ vifible, &c._ Church, and confederate with the members in the general Co¬ venant, into which they are entred, and any other Covenant or confederation to cqnftitute a political Church-member I finde none in Scripture, neither ferip nor ferawh And I conceive all Congregational confederations and Congregations, to be butt accidental to the univerfal Church, by reai'on of the numerofity of its members, for could we conceive that all the members of the whole Church could meet in one place, and partake of the Tame numerical Ordinances 0!derly,thmieeting in feveral places ffiould ceafe. The woman o {Canaan which M* Stone inftancelh in, by being a vifib’e Siint and believer, though fhe was not forma ly thereby a member of the Jewi(h Church, as he faith,yet was (he a member of the Evangelical Church, and that compleatly if (he were ba¬ ptized, if not baptized, then but incompleatly, and' maten- alite'. The place which is brought by M. Stone to prove the Apoftles to be fixed members of the particular Church in Jernfalem $ Aft* I. 2. 3. 13.14, proves it not,but oneiy that they abode in Jer falcxn un-till the coming down of the holyQhoftat Pentecoft a tQ inable them to difeharge their Apoftlefhips,but then they travel¬ led over the world, and joined in Ordinances with the Churches which they converted, as Officers adminiftring both word and Teals, and were no more fixed members of the Church of Jerufa- /rw, then of any orher Church where they became. They were never dwellers at Jerafa/emfiVituunoi Cahlee 3 Gn\y ftayd a while at Jemfalem upon occafion. And whereas I layd in my fourth Argument,that the Church univerfal is notjrenvs t or Church />^(?»ere,becaufithath^ccidents and adjuncts exifting in it as its QWn y vind.p.%o.t-2$* M. Stone affirmeth that a genus is capable of inherent accidents as its own, p. 35. and more largely p, 2$. with a ,\voflcl €r ft* Ine for that opinion. \But I mud cleave to mine opinion, as 1 meant it, for all that he hath fayd againflit. For I have proved that we mu ft divert the integral of th tgews from its evidence, (before it can be a genus.ox thing in diverting itof exiftence W e mu ft neceflarily divert its adjun.&s fr om e&ifte n ce alio. Npw as animal in a manfurnUhed with all his and accident s 28 An Addition or Poftfcript to the foregoing doth txift,it is integrum antmal 3 it is not animal 'in'genere. It is true we abftratt the proper accidents with the nature, and fay they belong to that nature primarily,as viability to humane na¬ ture, but viability exiftech only in an integral man. No man e- v^r heard homo in genere laugh. And in a Logical abftraft fenfe I granted vind.p.ic6< as much as M .Stone contends for; but if homo in genere doth not exift, visibility in genere doth not exift neither. But the OecumtnicalGhuichisnot Church ingenere 3 nt\ih.tv doth "M. Stone think it is Church in genere 3 and yet p. 35, he doth grant a Church ingenere^ and faith that the particular Churches are fpecies of it. Now fhould Church in genere 3 and Oecumenical or Caidiolick, or Synholick Church, as M. Stone calls it p. 40. in which fenfe 1 took it, and it isuftuliy taken, be brought into a Syllogifm together, there would be four terms. Again ,whereas I faid in the profecution of this fourth Argu¬ ment, that the univerfal Church cannot be a genus or Church in genere Jcklz aufe it is capable of being major and minor ,of greater or left extent, wW.p. 81./• 11. To this M. Stone anfwers, that a genus is capable of being majus and minus in aftuexercito. Man¬ kind is capable of increafe, virtue fhal increafe at the calling of the Jews .* and fin may increafe, becauie the particular virtues and vices may increafe* I anfwer, the queftion is not about genus in aSh* exercitp } for that properly is not genu;, but an Integral .under that genus. And there is no moreputfin to the definition of man then ani¬ mal rationale , now there are hundred Millions of men in the world then there was when there was but one man : fo there is no more put into the definition of Church ingenere now it con- fifteth ofMiliions ofvifible believers t then there was when it had far fewer - members, the Integral is inlarged indeed, but not Church in genere. Though a Giant be major homo 3 yet he is not magis homo 3 and though a dwarf be minor homo 3 yci he is not mi¬ nus homo. So for virtue and vice there is nothing more put into the de¬ finition by the increafe of them, and therefore they have no o- ther definition then they bad at the loweft ebb; now the defini¬ tion explicates thfcMeflence of the thing. The habits of virtue and vice Vindication oj the Church Catholic ^ c Jible i &c« OjO**—- ■ * * ■ -■ - — —■--- - - ■ -------- ■ ■■ » ' ■ 1 — ▼ice may grow Wronger, but gradtts non variant fpeciem , they may be in more fubjc&s,but that varies not the fpecits neither,So that genus being unum^ conjlflittn jndivijibilt : take away either animal or rationale and you fpoil the definition of man : and fo you can add nothing to the eflenceof it more then is in it, unlefs you put a further perfe&ing diftinguiffiing eflential form, and fo make a new fpecies below man. The majority or minority of a thing refpetts the members,and fo is aferibed to it as an integral 5 either continuous magnitude as in man erbruce, or difereet as in fpeciesjby the multiplication of members, and this is the cafe of the whole Church, it may grow greater or lefs as the members are multiplyed or decreafed. Alfo whereas I faid in the profecution of the fourth Argument that the wholeChurch is notate# w,or Church tnge»ere 9 becaufit is mutable and fluxile, which areaccidents of an Integral only* vwd.p'% 1. /. *4, M. Stone anfwers this Argument by affirming that genus m&y bee mutable, Totum genus plant arum (V brut or urn is mutable and fiuxile. I acfwer, that the Integrals under each of thole generals is mutable and fluxile, but ftill th tgenus of them, or things inpe. nere is nojjb. There is nothing taken out of the definition ofit by the change or death of the individual Integrals under thofe generals, nor n othing added by the renewal of more. Objeft. It may be objefted,that in this fenfe no Integral is mutable neither, becaufe the definition of it is not changed, though the individual Integral be changed or peri(h,and be ex- tintt. a4nf' I anfwer. That every individual Integral is an example and inftance of an Integral, and hath the definition of an Inte¬ gral belong unto itj but every individual exifting genus 9 or genus in attu exercitOi as M. Stone calls it, is not an example of the ge- nihch lefs the thing in genere 9 for the definition of gc- nusy cannot agreethereso, feeing a genus is an unlverfal, and thac is but particular, yea an individual of, or under that genus , and fo is but an Integral. If any eftential part of an exifting Integral be changed then it is not an Integral of the fame kinde it was* E affid An Addition or Yoftfcript to the foregoing and fo the peculiar definition of it muft be changed, yet ftill it is an Integral.. There cannot in propriety ©f fpeech be an example tf the fame becaufe it is but one, but there may be many ex amples of Integrals under that genus, and they indeed are mutable and flu- xile,a* they are Integrals thatexift. How can an individual man bean example ofgentts humanum fince 9 by his own logick,it is but the loweft fpecies ,& ft c eies eft pars generis t and pars eft qua conttne- turd tot o t therefore a part cannot be the whole, noran example of the whole. And to fpeak properly,if you would give an txampl of a genus, you muft give an example of an univerfa!,not of an in¬ dividual e.g, Ens'ua. genus, and fubftance, and accident, and fpirif,and body, and animal, &c, confidered in the general na¬ ture of them. And if you will call individuals fpecies^ then is man in general confideration a genus, but you muft not bring an in¬ dividual man to be an example of man ingenere^ which is an univerfal- 1 fay, an individuil is no inftance of an univer¬ sal^ it hath integrality in it, but no univerfality. Vniver - fait a funtperpetua qua per fe ipfa nec gtgnuntur nec inter eunt* Fonfe - ca, Metaph.l. 5 .c # % 8. And whereas I had (aid vind. p 81. /. 36. in pfofecution of the fame Argument, that the whole Church is not a newts, or C hurch ingenere ; becaufe it is meafured by time and place. M. Stone faith p. 1 1. that genus as well as integrum is an exifting thing meafured by time and place. I.nfwer, that the integrals of fuch or fuch a kinde, or under that general,are indeed meafured by time and placejbut the kind— confidered ingenere it not fo.My queftion was,whetherthe whole - Oecumenical Church exifting at the fame time,be Church in ge-^ nere , or a great integral conlifting of many members* But how particular time and place comes to take a mcafure of . Church or man tngenere ; I as yet perceive not. As it .was not drawn from the univtrfal Church of one or two or ten ages, fo - it is not meafured by them : fo that though this or that Church . ceafeth, yea all the members of the. whole Church that are. now exifling (hould dye, and the whole Church conJift of new mem-* bers, yet Church ingenert ceafeth not, nei her is altered, unlefs you will fay that the whole time of this world takes a xneafure ©* A Vindication of the Church-Catholick vifiblejOic. • j of it,becaufe it (hall exift in this kinde no longer then this world endures. Though individuals under a genus be Corporeal, yec the univerfals of them non funt ex He corpora's qua per fe loco & tempori fubjetta funt, utper feipjas digito dejignart poffunt 3 (ai&h Fvn- feca i Meta. 1 . 5.C, 28 . qu. 2. They are onely individuals, and Co Integrals that are tyed to hie & nunc. And whereas I had proved the whole Church to be an Inte¬ gral becaufe there is admiflion into it, nutrition and edification of members in it, andejeftion of members out of it, vind. p. 82, l. 13. iaithy 9. thata£e«w is capable of admiffion, 3 6 . I anfwer, that thefe adions and operations are properly the operations of the integrall under that genus. Now becaufe all the integralls of that kind have thofe operations, therefore they are attributed in notion to that genus, and faid to belong there¬ to, but that thing tngenere opperates not, but in the individu- alls or integrals under it. But the whole Church may,as I there proved, ad in one and the fame individual! ad, as a City or Ringdome may do, therefore it is one integrall. A genusov ge¬ neral! may ad, as it may be faid to have members which are the inftrumenta Vindication of the Church- C atholtck^ viabl e , &c. _ 3<> inftruments of aftions > but 2s himfclt contefteth,that though the members be in th e genus, or comprehended under the genus, yet they refpeft it not as a genus,bnt as an integrall, fo I fay the o- perations are the operations of fuch an integral ot fuch a kind, and not of th e genus as a general. The generall in abjlratto work- eth not any or wrpod'tAf ^except notionall) but the in* tegralls work them. And whereas I proved in my eight argument, vind. So. 1 -8. that the whole Church is one integrall, by the feverall appella¬ tions given to it in Scripture, as Body, 2 v ecu fix Kingdom, tabernacle^houfe, building, temple, armyVheep-foid^hcat field,-. &c. “ M-Stone p. 33. faith, that thefeand fuch appellations are “indeed firftly and properly appellations of an integrum, having « analogy to tot am integrale : but fai hhe this totumintegr dels fpecies fpecialijfima) or every individuall Church being fpecies ^ fpecialijfmsa, is alfb an integrum ^and containeth members, and - “ the ^^comprehending all his fpecies under him, it corapre* «* hendeth the individual* with all their members under it, or «« within it felf. Hence thofe appellations which are given to an “individual Church are given to the Church in general, &c. If t! a Church be a body, then this or that individual is a body, and ct all the members of it are 2tw»/u&,one and the fame body,of 6i one and the fame Corporation. _ 1 anfwerybat then it w il follow that the whole Church is firftly and properly an integral, of or under fuch a kindc,®/*.* Society, or polity, becaufe thole appellations are firftly and properly meant of that, and of particular Congregations but at fecond hand* For firfl men are drawn into that, and into Congregations as a fecondary and accidental thing,containing but parcels of the members of that great fociety,or polity. It is clear that 'Zveoaptt is not meant in Scripture of a particular Congregation, but of the whole Church confiding of Jews and Gentiles entred into the Kingdom of Chrift. We finde not a particular Congregation called the body or Chrift,for then Chrift fhculd have innumerable bodies,who hath but one,in the fame kind, and that fitly join'd together and com-- $6 An Addition or Poftfcrtpt to the foregoing compared by that which every joint fupplyeth, Eph. 4.1 6. which M. Hooker, as 1 faid before, calls the external political Kingdom of Chrift. Neither are particular Congregations called the King¬ doms of Chrift,for then hejhould have many Kingdoms, in the fame refpe&, whereas the Church militant is but one, confifting of many members. And Chrift tells us the wheat-field is the world, and not particular Congregations. If a King hath ma¬ ny Kingdoms, Cities, or Armies,though he {peaks of things that concern rhemall, and all alike, he doth not fay my Kingdom, City, Army, but Kingdoms, Cities, Armies. If a man hath ma¬ ny fields,houfes, floors, netts,loavs, and fpeak of that which concerneth them all, de doth not fay my field, houfe, floor, nett, loaf,but in the plural number, as of many .• fo would Chrift have done if he had fpoken or meant it primarily and intentio¬ nally of many Churches or Congregations, but he bindes them up in the Angular number, becaufe he meant but an Integral by all thofe tearrns, and the particular Congregations ar^but par- cells thereof; And differ no more, then when a cart-load of wheat is put into diverfe facks, whereof every one contains fe- veral parcels of the load,becaufe it could not conveniently be all put into one, which though fevered is accounted as,and fold for one load of wheat, and when it is fhot out makes but one heap. Or as a great common field divided by feveral meersor baulks, or a great meadow into feveral acres by dools, or marks, and fo one man cutts and tends one acre, and another another, but thefe hinder not the integrality of the whole, much lefs do they make the whole meadow ih t genus, and the parts of it th t[pecks: fo neither do the accidental and fecondary differences between particular Congregations hinder the integrality of the whole Church, much lefle make that thegensts,a,na them the fpecies. A ninth Argument I brought to prove the whole Church an Integral, was from the feverall words which the Scripture ufeth to txprefle the union of the members of the whole Church together, as added , builded together, fitly framed together, com - palled, all the body by joints and bands knit together , &c. vind- p, 87* /. l8- To this Argument Nl.Stone, p. 36, giveth the fame anfwer, that he did to the former Argument. But Vindication oj the Church-Catholick^vifible , 8cc. But it is clear that the phrafes are meant of the whole Church primarily and immediately, and not of particular Congrega¬ tions. This adding, joining, jointing,and building of the converted ones is firft to the Kingdom, Body, and Houfe of Chrift, and there is do other eftential form added to them belide Cheiftiani- ty> by being levered out partiatim> by parcells into feveral Con¬ gregations ; that is a moft accidental thing to them asGhrifti- ans, brought in by convenience, and neceliity. Particular Con¬ gregations are but as feveral ridges in a wheat-field, which hin~ der not the integrality of the whole field at all. Asthedwelling of feveral men in feveral Towns in a Kingdom or Common¬ wealth, which Towns contain only fome parcells of the fubje&s of that Kingdom or Common-wealth hinders not the integrali¬ ty of the whole, though they be under particular officers for civil affairs: no moredothedciftin&ion of vifibleGhriftians,into fe¬ veral Congregations under feveral particular officers for Eccle- fiafticaij affairs, hinder the integrality of the whole Church. Firft, men are fubjefts or denifons of the Nation or Kingdom, and then have liberty according to their conveniences to live in what petty foeiety they pleafe. So, &c. Though a man fhould have feveral houfes in never fo many Counties or Towns, and at fomtimecr other refort to them all, and dwell for a time in them, yet this varies not his memberfhip of the Kingdom or Common-wealth, being mcerly accidental to that relation. 9o, &c. It cannot be denyed but that the feveral Congregations are integrals in reference to their own members 5 and fo is any village in reference to the inhabitants, but in reference to the whole Church or Kingdom of Chrift they are members, as the villages are of a Kingdom, or Common-wealth. How many bodies politick,and focietiesin a Nation are mem¬ bers of the greater body politick and foeiety of that Nation < fo many lefs bodies Ecclefiafiical make up the greater body Ecclc- fiafiical in a Nation ; For it was foretold that the Kingdoms of this world fhould become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chrift , Revel . ii. 15. The Ecclefiafticalpolities in converted Kingdoms, are faid to be commenfurable to the civil, And by the fame rea- F fon An Addition or Bofifcript to the foregoing fon all the Chriftians in all territories on earth make up the whole Church or whole vifible Kingdom c.fChriftin the Chri- JUan worldjbecaufe ic contains all the members thereof,wha are Chrift’s (ubje&s. And whereas M. Stone faith, p. 37. that Baptifm is a privilcdg of a political member, as Gii cumcifion was a priviledg of the members of the Jewilh Chutckfien. iy.Thofe /0.2. were admit¬ ted into the Church, and then baptized. Anfw, It is not faid, they that were admitted into the Church were baptized, but they that gladly received his Word were baptized, verfe 14. fo that Baptifme admitted them into their fuft relation, and that was -into the vifible Church.- Neither can it be abfolutely faid that Gircumcifion was a pri- viledge of the jewilh Church, for thefecond perfon, Ifljmae/^ that was circumcifed was not of it, nor any of the other Chil¬ dren of Abraham, by Keturah^ nor Ef an, and yet were circum¬ cifed. Can wee thinke that Job and his friends fo eminent for piety, and who facrificed to the true God with acceptance were uncircumcifed ? And were all thofe nations among whom they were chief men, if not rulers, which were of Kbrakams pofterity by Kettt- rah, and of Efan's ftockjheathenSjUncircumcifed ? The very name of Elthtt Iheweth the contrary, which fignifieth my God is Jeho• vali. So that it is more thfn probable that there were religious jperfons and Countries after Abrahams time, behde the Jews, if not before them, as M. Baxter hath well obferved in his treatife upon Infants Baptifm, and thefe no doubdc were circnm- cifed. It’s true Religion did not very long continue among them,as among the Jew?, but God would not have call off them, if they had not forfaken him. I grant that the feal of admiffion is to be given to none but fuch. as are in covenant with God, But what covenant? The general! divine covenant, or the particular humane covenant > Surely into the general! covenant with God. The many thou¬ sands bapttzed by Jvhn t and Chriftsdifciples,and the three thou¬ sand in hlls 2 were indeed in covenant with thcnational Church Vindication of the C hurch- Cat ho lick. vijiblefUc. of the Jews before baptifm, becaule the Church was then Natio- nalJ ? butby this new iigns they were admitted into the Evangc- licall Church by a new and Catholick Tea f, to which thdr for¬ mer ftanding gave them no right. Ai d though as M. Stone , faith Obfignation with the initial leal of Baptifmimplyeth confedera¬ tion, and admiffion into the Church, yet it implyeth not confe¬ deration with this, or that, or any particular Church,or admiffi- on into it.Thoughi’W was bapcssdby A nanias at Dampens jet Was it not as confederate either with the Church at Jerafalem, or Damascus whereof he had b w en a bitter perfecutor, but as a * Convert to Jefus Ghrift, And though haply Cornelius A Zls io. might be confederate with the Jcwifh Church, being a Profelite, yet we know of no filch confederation of his kinfmen and near friends mentioned verf 24, who were Gentiles, and yet were all baptized. Neither do 1 think there was any implicite covenant to bind the Jewiffi Church together, or the Profelites to the Jewifh Church, befides the divine general covenant with Gcd,and yet for ought I know it had been as requifite for the members of every Synagogue a$ for particular Congregations now, feeing they were lyable to cenfures there* With what particular Church were the Samar it ans^nd Simon Magus confederate A#.8.12? who were a little before bewitch¬ ed by Simons forcerics, yet upon Philips preaching unto them, and their converfion unto Chrift, they were baptized both men and women; thewitch,and the bewitched. Surely Samaria was not confederate with Jerufalem 3 they did not love one another fa well .* neither was there any infticuted Church (as the new phrafe is) as yet in Samaria: neither was it a Congregationall Church, but the whole City with one accord.” neither were there any particular officers fet over them tben,nei* ther could they enter into a particular Church covenant, as it is called s untill they were baptized, the gtnerall covenantrriufl: precede the particular, and therefore were in no capacity to choofe any officers over them, and yet they were baptized, and therefore baptifm is no priviledge of a particular politicall Church-member,but of the general* And with what Church was the Jay lour at PbMfpi andhis rude family in covenant? A# ■ 1 F 2 who An Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing * who was a ruffianly heathen* Yet being converted at midnight* was baptized the fame hour, of the night, without asking leave of the Church -there, if there were any. And for this particular covenant,though M.Stone faith p-yyj. that it is a covenant not only between mm St man, but alfo between God St.man- But 10.14 Of beauty St bands.And lfa>6^^,As a bride-groom rejoyceth over his bride ^fo, fhall thy God rejoice over thee .* and as a young man marrieth a virgin , fefhallthy fons marry thee . But 1 can find no evidence or hint in of thefe places for a Congregational! Covenant. No nor Vindication of the Church-Catholick, vifible , &c. in all the inftances that are ufually given, t^Gods Covenant with Abraham ,, but we know that was the general! covenant be¬ tween God and man, and not Congregational!. And the cove¬ nants made in the days of Afa Jehofhaphat, Wekemiahpte nothing to the purpofr,£pr they were not Congre- aationall, but renewalls of their National Covenant with God, and they were the Church of God before they renewed this co¬ venant, and not conflicted by the renewall of it. # Neither doth AH. 9.26. which is alledged fomc, prove it. It is faid indeed t hat when Saul was come to Jerufalcm , he ajfayed to- ]oyn himfelf to the dtfciples> but they were all afraid of him, andbe¬ lieved not that he was .a difciple. But this joyning him to t e i ciples, was to have comunion and fociety with them, and not to bea.particular Church member there. It is not faidhealfayed to join himlelf to the Churches a member,but to the dilciples, much lefle is any particular covenant mentioned there. But as if one that was known to be an Apparitour, orPune~ vant ? or Perfecutour in the Bifhopsdays fhould allay to join him- felfwith private Chriftians in converfe,or fame private meeting,, they would be afraid of him $ Co was that cafe. But before that journey to Jemfalem , ver. 1 $. it was fhewed them, and by Chrift to Ananias that he was a chofen veflel to bear Chrift’s name be¬ fore the Gentiles and Kmgs, as well as the children of Ijraej. And therefore might not join with the Church at Jerufatem- nei ther as an officer or private member. Neither is it mentioned to, which of the Congregations in Jemfalem he aflayed to join him- felf, whereof no doubt there were great ftore, feeing they h at not great publick houfes to meet in 5 but private houfes onely 5 but it was to the Difciplts or Ghriftians there. Others bring a proof for this way from //4/.42.16 .1 will bring-, the bhnde by a way that they knew not , I will lead them in paths that they have not knownI will make dargnefs light before them , an crooked things fhaight . But .this will not prove it, but may as well - ferve for any way that men can fancy, l hey may as well prove themfelves blind by this text, as prove a Congregational Cove¬ nant from thence. Others argue that Church-relation is not a natural relation- but a voluntary, and therefore muft be by a Covenant or mutu¬ al agreement. F 3 A man 42 An Addition or Pofrfcript to the foregoing A man fay they will be my brother or kinfman whether I wil or no, becaule it is a natural relation, but it is not To in this re¬ lation. J anfwer, fo a man being born within the Church will be a Church-member byJederal holinef?, and fo a brother in a fpiri- tual ftnfe whether I will or no, being in the general Covenant. Q! but fay they, how can a woman become my wife,or a man be¬ come my fervant, but by a voluntary Covenant ? -Anf. no more can a man or woman of age be a Chriftian, or member of the whole Church, but by being in Covenant with Chrift: the huf- band and Lord of his Church, but what is this to a Congregati¬ onal Covenant between member and member? Do fervancs when they enter into a family, or fouldiers into a band or troop, makeonecovenant with the mafter of captain,andanocher with their fellow-lervants,and feilow-fouldiers * If hapiy they (hould covenant together to be faithful in their place?, and helpful one to another, and this fhouldtendto the great advantage of the mafter, or captain, and benefit of each other, yet this is not that which makes them chat mafters fervant?,or that captains fouldi¬ ers, but the covenant with the mafter, or captain. Neither doth any mafter or captain require any fuch fecondary covenant be¬ tween his fervants or fouldier?,and yet it is a voluntary relatioB, they enter into, but it is voluntary in refpeft of the mafter and fervant, the captain and fouldier,notin regard of the fellow-fer¬ vants, and fellow-fouldier?, that falls in neceffarily. O! but it is voluntary what particular members I will join withall in a particular Congregation,! may choofe of what par¬ ticular focietv I will be a member. Anfiv. fol may choofe in what Town in a Kingdom I will dwel,butl muft take the inhabitants thereof to be my fellow- neighbours necefiarily« So all the Churches of Chrift: ever took the Chriftiaris cohabi¬ ting with them within the civil bounds, to be their fellow- members of thole Churches, The Church of Jerufalemcon lifted of the Chriftians inhabiting in Jernfalem^and fo it may be faid of Corinth , Ephefm % Philippi^ See. they did not pick and choofe fome cut of one vicinity fome cut ofancthcr.If any were heretical or fcandalotfs they had cen¬ sures to remove or amend them. Now Vindication of the Church- C at boltck. vifihle, 8 tc. Now our civil bounds for Towns and Vicinities have been an¬ ciently fetfor civil tranfa&ions, and cannot be by particular men altered, but by authority * and if all the inhabitants with¬ in thofe limits be in the vifible covenant with Chrift and under his fea!, and have publick houfes or Churches, as they ate ordi¬ narily, but tropically called for publick worfhip, and a mainte¬ nance appointed outofthe revenues ofthofeTowns to maintain a Minifter over them, and havea Minifter of their own fet over them, to whom, and his predecefiors the Chriftians of that pre- cinft have from generation to generation fubmltted ip the Lord, and enjoyed Gods Ordinances from them, I cannot fee how Without breach of order, and removing the ancient land-marks, and introducing confuUon,any particular member either of that Town or Church can of their own heads alter this, and pick Church-members whom they lift, and where they lift, and bring them into a particular Covenant to make a new particular Church,under colour to make a pure Church- I believe all the Church.members in Jeutfalem 3 Corinth, Fhz- hppi 3 &c. were not really godly, but many only externally, and many very loofe, and guilty of foul faults, i Cor, n. 'lit, i> \ 6 . 2 7 //#.3.$ Tkll.$*i% 3 t9.Jude 12,13,16. Yet they did not leave them out, and inftitute new Churches of choice members, but fought to reclaim them. 1 fcarce think all the members of the Churches in Now -England arc really god¬ ly,or fo judged of their Paftors or fellow-members, and yet they do not pick the good from among the reft,8c make new Churches of them, but keep the particular Churches ftill anfwerable to the civil bounds. It is a bad way of cure to cut off the found mem¬ bers from the difeafed, and unite them together in a new body. It’s true the civil bounds are heterogenea! to the Church, but fo they were in Jerusalem, Corinth , Ephefus, &c* and yet they bounded them then, and denominated them, and fo they do ftill in New-England and fo the feveral fhowres are to the feverall £ps, yet they bound and denominate them alfo. Indeed if Towns and Churches were to be conftitutcd,they might have o- thcr bounds and quantities allowed them, and fo might the Towns in New-'Enghrtd have,for there is no precept left in the 44 . Addition or Pofifcript to the foregoing word to limit either of them,but the Churches would be compre¬ hended in thofe towns .* this is not to meafure Churches by the acre, as fome foolilhly objeft. But we have both precept, exam¬ ple and necellity requiring that the Churches Ihould be in a vici¬ nity, and not Scattered abroad, foasthe cannot conveniently meet together publickly on the Lords day, or watch over one a- nother. Yea, fay fome, if Churches were rightly conftituted at firft,we ought not to feparate from them, or gather Churches out o£ Churches, but ours were not fo. A*?/There*are three things that I hear obje&td again!! our con- ftitution of Churches: Fir ft,that it was not voluntary,but forced by authority. Atf/jm*, The members were not forced from hcathenifme to chriftianity, but they became chriftians many generations ago voluntarily, for ought I know •• and for reforming of them,their predeceffours, or fucceflours, either from Popery, which was a ipirituall leprofy over-fpreading the Church, or any other fu- perftition, and reforming of them by authority and compulfion, I think it is no more then the Magiftrate might,yea ought to do, and the godly Kings and Rulers in the GldTeftament did, and were commended and bleft for doing. Indeed a man cannot re¬ gularly compell a woman to be his wife againft her will; nor a man compell another to be his fervant,nr apprentice, but if they have once bound thcmfelvs by marriage, promife,or indenture, they may compel them to hold fo, and to obey and reform them- felvs. So is thtfeafe between Chrift and his vifible Church. Secondly it is obje&ed that we are not fit matter for a Church, and therefore not fit to be made Churches, or to be joined with¬ al!. A nfwer, was there not as unfit matter in the Jewifh Church be¬ fore Chrifts coming, and yet the Church for theefifnee of it was the fame then and now ? yea was there not as unfit matter in the Churches in the Apoftles time at Corinth and PhilUppiSee > fee the texts before named, and tell me if we have worfe matter then there was, and yet what the Gofpell there faith, it faith to them that are under the Gofpell. Give an inftance of any man or wo¬ man that ever profeifed bekei in,and fubjeftion to Chrift in all Vindication of the Church-Catholick vifible, 8cc. the New Teftament that ever was denyed admiffion into^he~viT hble Church, or that wag caft out nicer iy for want of the power cfgcdlinefs. TheApoftles inftrufted, informed, reproved, and fought to amend them, and if they were heretical!,or no¬ torious and obftinate, excommunicated them 5 and that we allow and could heartily wilh were foil done, and hope may in due time. r Doth a (hepherd turn the difeafed ffieep out of his flock quite and feed only the found onis ? no,he is to firengthenthedijeafed ■ heal ^e.fick, and bind up the broken, and bring again that which was driven aw,y , andfeekjip that which is /of, £^ 34 4 Indeed it is requisite he Ihould l'eparate the fcahbed and difeafed from the reft for a time, left they infeft the reft, and then having cured them to put them together into the fame told. Minifters are fenc to the loft Jheep of the houfe of Ifrael , as Chrift commanded Adat. 10. 6 . and not to teed the lound ones only that went not aftray: and what manner of people Chrift meant by thole loft fticep, I need not tell you, fuch I believe as many in our age would have paired by, as the Prieft an d Levite did the wourided man in the parable, or counted goats rather then fheep Yea but the members of the Churches in the New Teftament that grew fo corrupt, did not appear foac their*admiffion into the Church. Anf We know they were new Converts to the faith of Chrift and immediately admitted by baptifm, even by thoufands of a day, and that when they were men grown, withouc any ftrift enquiry of the truth of grace in them, and withouc any waiting foj experience of their godly convcrfation. ‘ 6 Phhp baptized Simon the Sorcerer after his profeflfon of his behefm Chrift, who yet was in the gall D f bitternefs and bond of iniquity, and ofall men one would have thought he Ihould have been well tryed firft, hue was not. And the Apoftle faith of feme members in the Church of Co- nnth, that they had not the knowledg or God,he fpake it to their foame.Surcly if they had had it at their ftrit admiffion into Church, they would not have loft it afterward, under the Mini- ftry of their teachers. Indved they might corrupt in manners, or in judg menc, but not lofe their knowledg,and grow fotts. *3 ta An Addition or Vofifcript to the foregoing But there is a great deal of difference between a Church at the firft conftitution of it, when poflibly they may pick choice mem¬ bers, as they did at firft in Tv. E. when they went over thither, men converted 6y the Miniftry in Old England before they went thither $ and a fuccelTive Church in after ages, which conlift of a new generation, and feed of the former, £tju parent-urn pejor avis y tuiit nos nequiores , mox daturos progeniem vitiofiorem. The Chur¬ ches fucceeding the Apoftles age were not fo pure as in the Apo- ftles times, and yet then they were bad enough : and I fear the fucceeding Churches in TV, E. will not prove altogether fo pure and eminent for fincerity of grace and holy conversation as their firft were; and yet our brethren do not hold that corrupt mem¬ bers in fuch a fuccdfive Church doth unchurch them ; and alas that is our condition in this nation, the Lord in mercy reform and amend us. Thirdly it is objected againft us, that we are not rightly con- ftituted,becaufe we want anexplicite Congregational covenants and fo the true form. Anfwer, Thus you fee I am inforced to return to fpeak of the Covenant again. But I anfwer, that all our Brethren for the Congregationall way do not unchurch us for want of that ^ and 1 think I may clear our Brethren in TV. E. from that afperfion .• and fame of our Brethren at home who have lately written, require but a mutual! agreement for joint worfhipcfGod, and I am fure that may be found in our Congregations, and both have been, and might be more, but for thefe new fcruples put into their minds. For my part I am not againft an explicite Covenant in our Congregations,but wifh they were as willing to it,as they are in many places willing to come to an agreement with their Mini¬ sters for their tithes, if they can get advantage thereby, as moft what they do abundantly. For by fuch a covenant, I conceive they (hould be more bound to their Miniftcrs, as well as their Minifters to them , and it might haply be a means to caufe them to fubmit the better to our inftru&ions, reproofs, admonitions, infpe&ion and difeipline i, but I dare not ftamp jus dtvinum upon Sr, neither do I find any hint of it in Scripture or primitive times, and therefore cannot believe there was any .* but that they flood bound ' •• T— -- T---""-*"■" ■"- ; . Vindication of the Church-Catholicl^ vijiblejkc. bound by their general Covenant to fubmic to the Minifters that, were fet over them in the Lord, in their lcveral place?. Neither dare I think it is that which gives people right toGods Ordinan¬ ces, nor that it can divolve luch a priviledge upon the membeis that enter into it, to invert them with the power of thekey?, to admit members, make officers,to invert and divert them,and have all Church power radically in^Jiemftlvs. I know M. Stone doth not make it the form of a particular Congregation, but the Cement rather; but truly as it is ufed or abuied rather, by many about us, I fear it wil prove but untem¬ pered morter. For firft people are lo eager of it,that fome people will join with Antipaedobaptifts, Millenaries,and fift monarchy- men, or any fe& fo they may but be in a covenant. Secondly, it is raifed up as a partition wall between them and all the reft of the Churches of Chrift (though they be in implicite covenant,, and agreement together, and with their Pallors ) To that they will not communicate with them, though never fo religious, re¬ formed,and eminent Congregations, nor fuffer any of them, though never fo godly and fo acknowledged by them to com¬ municate with themfelves. They will not baptize any of our children, nor fuffer us to baptize any of theirs.* nay they will not fo much as ftay to fee any of our children baptized,if they be occalionally at a l.e&ure where any fuch child is to be baptized, though they know the parents be very godly, and the Minifter bee godly that is to baptize them, and though there bee no¬ thing offenfive in the manner of adminiftration of Baptifm,, but run out, as if the Church were on fire over their heads. Thirdly, as it occafioneth the breach of many marriages that elfe would be fuitable,fo it many times caufeth great breaches after marriages between man and wife,even to the andehriftiani- zing, or at leaft to the unchurching one of another, and caufech. jarrs and alienation of affe&ioDs, and vain janglings and di- fputes, and unchriftian heats and animoiities inftead of fweet Chriftian love, unity, and communion, andmutual edificati¬ on. Fourthly, it exceedingly hinders family-duties, that they can neither join fo cordially together in praier, having fuch fini- fter thoughts one of another, nor yet in Catechizing of their fa¬ milies; nor calling over the Word publickly taught, or calling G a children An Addition or Poftfcript to the foregoing children and fervants to an account: for what they have heard publickly, becaufe one runs to one Town to the publick O/di- nancts, and another to another,and one draws fomeof thefami- ly one way, and theother another. Fiftly itisufed as & means- to enthral the members that are entred into it, fo that though they marry out of that Town, or remove their dwellings out by necdlity or for convenience, and dwell never fo far diftanc from them, yet mufx they remain members ofthat Congregations, and may not join with any other Church, without their leave and difmUfion, which they will not give, except that Church with which they would join be condituttd, or inftituted, as the new phrafe is, by an explicite Covenant, as fad experience hath pro¬ ved.- nay,are not permitted to join with a Congregation,though never fo eminent for godlintfsand reformation $ no, not though the perfon acknowledgerh,not only theMinillerto be godly and eminentjbut alfo the inftr ument under God oi the work of grace in him formerly. Yea it is accounted no lefs then fpiritual adultery to depart from thtmafter they are thiis joined, without their difmiflion, which they will not give, except to anew inftituted Church of the fame kind*, If it be fuch a fnare, it is goed for fingle perfons to keep out of that bond untill they fee how and where God will difpofe of them by marriage : and for married perfons to get as long leafes of their farmes as they can, and keep their yoke-lellows as long as they can,for if they dye, they lay a great bar in their own way againftafecond marriage,except to one of their own Church, or one of like conftitution. I do not conceive that God ever bound any man or woman to fuch inconveniences, onely they rouft not marry, but in the Lord, faith the Apoftle; nor yet do our brethren in New-England put any fuch yoke upon the Difciples necks, as far as I underftand ; neither do I think a brother or filler is in bondige in fuch a cafe, but this ufe or rather abufe is made of this Covenant byfomeinour Country. 3t is a harfh cenfure which M* Sam. Mather , a young man as 1 hear, hath given again!! fuch as are fiot ofhis judgement in this point, in his preface before M. S/ww Book, iS As if the dread- Vindication of the Church-Catholicfvifible^ &c. (t dreadlul revenges ol God,eitherfcr perfonal pollutions, or for “linfull complyance with former devices, or wayesofmenin t4 the things ot his houfe, or for fecrec contempt of the limplici- 44 ty and power of the Gofpel, are gone forth in penal blindneH, 4< and other blafting ftrokes, upon the fouls ot fomein thele c: times. As if this were the very pattern (hewed in the Mount, and the very fafhion a< d form of the houle (hewed to the Prophet Ezjek^e)) Ezekj 43*10 11. as is there intimated. But we pray you is it a pattern reveahd in the Word of God, or by inlpiration onely ? Ifit be fet down in the Word of God, we befeech you be pleafed to fhew it unto us, and point us to the texts of Scri¬ pture that hold it forth: we hope fome of us df fire to fear and ierve God in truth, as well as among you. How many worthy Martyrs, Minifters, and eminent Chriftians have dyed for the faith, and in the faith, and gone to heaven, before either M ^Ma¬ ther, or this Covenant were born $ were they all ftrucken with the dreadfull revenges of God in penal blindnefs and blafting ftrokes ? I believe our brethren will not fay fo. And if this Church-Covenant hath no better dfc&s elfie-r where, then it hath in.thefe parts, as I (hewed before, tru¬ ly it were better it never had been deviftd, or were made Nebujhtan. M. Stone calls the llniverfal Church, fotum genericum exiftensj as M- Hooker did alfo in his book ; of which 1 laid vind.-^o that it is nothing elfe but integrum fimilare< Rut 1 do acknow- kdg that though totum genericum exiftens may be integrum fimi - Ure , yet is not always lo. It is fo when all o f that kind that ex- ifteth isbound together in one copula or bond. As if all the Sand in the world were on one heap, or all the Gold in the world were of one lump, they were integralls* Or if there befuch a bird as the Phoenix, it is totum genericum txiftens } and yet it is an intcgrall. But if there be no fuch bond, then it is not anintegraltyet they are not that thing mgenere t nor the genus of all that kind. But the univerfall vifible Church, though it be totumgenertcum exiftensj. e. all of that kind of foci- ety or body that exifteth,yet it is an integral, becaufe it is bound together by an external! vifible bond, yea bonds 3 as hath been G 3 fhewed 49 r I' JO sin Addition or Pofrfcrtpt to the fortgoing fhewed before; & that Covenant with God in Chrift,& the leal of Baptifme,which makes them of that kind compleatly,makes them alio of that integral,^ formali ratione , and they cannot be of that kind, except they enter in as members of that integrall. I acknowledg alfo that the inftance of the nature of a flock notreferved in one fheep, or of a Corporation refervedin one man, mentioned vind. p. 79, which M. Stone puts me twice in mind of^was mifplaced and mifapplied there;for the flock is not the genm of fheep, nor the Corporation of the men in ic$ but both flock and Corporation are each of them integrals,and fo is the whole Church. M„ Stone alfo Andes fault that I faid vind. p. 78, that that which exifteth in the individual! is ipfa cattfa materialis tndtvidni. It he like not that expreflion, let him take the former mentioned but three lines before it, it is pars effentialu indtvidm , for it goeth to the conftitution of the eflence of it, but it is not thegenus of the integral, or that thing tngenere. And whereas I faid vind.p. 216* that I do not mean that the univerfall Church is firft in regard of confutation of the whole politicall Kingdome of Chrift by aggregation and combinati¬ on, becaufc the particular Congregations muft exift before they can be combined and aggregated. I now declare that the fiifl matter of the univerfall Church are particular vilible bleleevers, that are drawn into the generall Covenant, and thefe are fecon- dariiy combined into particular combinations, and fo the com¬ binations of Congregations in the univerfall Church is not the firftcombination, but a fecondary, aud in the diftribution or <*- nalyjis of the Church-Catholick, they are accounted members of the diftribution, but in ihegenejisor c©nftitution,the particular members are firit conftitutive. I (hall alfo be willing that the eighth way whereby the whole Church may be accounted the prime Church, namely cognitionc jivenofcibi/itateperfetta 9 mentiQnzd vind.21%.iiy.&nd 25 3 may be left out, bicaufe it is more proper to agenericall nature then an inttgrail: and fo may be faid of the Church as it is a kind of fociety differing from r thers, rather then as it is an integral con- ftfting of members, for there the members are firft conlidered. And to M, Stones objection againft what I faid vin. p 219 and 220, Vindication of the C hurch- C at holick l vift hie, &c. 2 20, that the priority of the Church-Catholick in refpe&of the particular,is like the priority of a Kingdome to the parts of ic,or of a Corporation to the parts of it, which faid I is not meant in - a mathematical! or techtonicall consideration. I anfwer once again,that the members of the univerfal Church which are the particular vifible believers, are, as it is an integral/ in confideration before the whole, becaufe the whole is made up of them, as a kingdom of all the members of the kingdom, and all the towns in it are made up of the members of the kingdom, and fo are all particular Congregations of the members of the univerfal Churcb;and in the diftribution of the whole into parts there the .whole is confidered firfi, and then is diftributed not onely into particular member?, but into combined members dwelling in feverall Countries, or lefs fecondary combinations, and fo even thofe fecondary combinations may be faid to make up that whole, for offuch parts as the whole is diftributed into, of fuch it is alfo conftituted. But the particular Congregations are made up onely of fuch as are members of the whole Church, and they are entred into that body, before they are conlidered as members of the petty fiveral focieties. And for the unity and priority of the Catholick Church, M» Cotton upon Cant, 6 « 9 f- 1 pi* hath this pillage* 44 The Church 44 is one, i.e m at unity or brotherly love one with another^as one 44 body, though fcattered into many places, as England, Scotland 44 Germany t 8cc. in all Chriftendom. Some Churches are more 44 chaff, mild, and unfported then other?,even of the fame Coun- s * try, and yet fuch are but few, and though few, yet at entire u- 44 nity as one body .The onely one of her mother,the choicefi one of 44 her that bare her. In the Hebrew phrafe,/^>/> he, the whole is 44 the mother, the partj. are the members. The true Catholick 54 Church ofChrift is the mother of all the reformed daughters, 44 and thefedaughcer-Churchesthatare moft chaft, and mild, 44 and undefiled,they are beft efteemed, and beft beloved of the 44 mother Catholick Church. Whence we note, that there is a Church-Cathoiick, and that particular Churches are the daughters of that Church , and theie daughters are parts and members of that one body,and therefore c * ' not An Addition or Voftjcrift to the foregoing not fpec/es, and this muft confift of the fame naturethat the mem¬ bers do which confhtute it, and fo be viflble, elfe ! know not what bnfe to make of fvi. Cottons words.. it fecmeth very ftrange to me that whereaSthe Scripture (peak-. eth fo much of the Kingdom ot Chril't, the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of his dear Son, and Chi ift’s tverlaffing‘Kingdom,and of the amplitude theieof from fea tofea, and from the flood to t‘ie worlds end,that all this (hotffd be nothing el(e but a King¬ dom ingenere^o r a general Kingdom in a Logical notion,compre¬ hending none but a few pari icular Congregations,conufting of 7,10.20.40. cr 60. perfons therein, united in an txpliciteCon- gregational Covenant, and no univerfal or large integral King¬ dom whereof they are but members or parcels. As if a King ihould be famous for a large and glorious King¬ dom,and when allcomsto all,itis nothing but a tew little Iflands that hand independent at a diftance one from another, and have no ether union together but that they areall ruled by the tame King, and are as fo many petty kingdoms under him,having no¬ thing to do one with another, but only to live in love and peace together. I conceive this is a very great eclipling of the glory of Ghrift in his Kingly office and honour. 1 ihould liften after the interpretation that our brethren give of Acl^ 8.3. and Gal 1.13, of Saul's perfecuting the Church , and AH. 2-47. of the adding of people to the Church ; and 1 Cor. 12. 28. ot God's fttting Officers in the Church to be meant *ph t& , if the Scripture did not fo abundantly fpeak of the unity and amplitude of the Church,and bonds whereby all of that fort art bound together in an Integral* But for my part f cannot fee how it is pcflible for a man to enter compleatly into that yevos or kind, buche muft withal euter into that Integral , and that this Integra! muft receive not only feveral Congregations,but even whole Chriftian Nations,and even Angle perfons convened, though they fhould not bee joined in any particular Congregations.! ibould have added many other things , but that J would not exceed the bounds of a Poftfcripr, and the Prefs ftayeth for this. The Lord guide us into all truth. FINIS.