1^ LJBr^^RY ~l f hc0lo((icul ^eminavii, i I'lilACKTON. N. J. Division .V. ^0. Case. h-g^ Nn' Slhilf' Secllbn ;..;... No. Book. NoSO j The John H. Krehs Donation. 1 Sc / THE WORKS JOHN OWEN, D.D. EDITED BY THOMAS RUSSELL, MA. MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS, BY WILLIAM ORME. VOL. XX. CONTAINING AN INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGINAL, NATURE. INSTITUTION, POWER, ORDER, AND COMMUNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES; AN ANSWER TO DR. STILLINGFLEET'S BOOK OF THE UNREASONABLENESS OF SEPARATION; AND THE TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH AND ITS GOVERNMENT. LONDON: PRINTED FOR RICHARD BAYNES, 28, PATERNO-STER ROW: And sold by J. Parker, Oxford; Deighton and Sons, Cambridge; D. Brown, Wansli and Innes, and H. S. Baynes and Co. Edinburgh ; Clialraers and Collins, and M. Ogle, Gla.sgow; M. Keene, and R. M. Tims, Dublin. 1826. CO IN TEN IS TO THE TWENTIETH VOLUME. Page AN INQUIRY INTO THE ORIGINAL, NATURE, INSTITUTION, POWER, ORDER, AND COMMUNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES. To the Reader PREFACE. An examination of the general principles of Dr. Stillingfleet's book of the Un- reasonableness of Separation • 11 CHAP. I. Of the original of churches • • 65 CHAP. 11. The especial original of the evangelical church-state 74 CHAP. III. The continuation of a church-state and of churches unto the end of the world ; what are the causes of it, and whereon it depends 95 CHAP. IV. The especial nature of the gospel church-state appointed by Christ •••••... Ill CHAP. V. The state of the first churches after the apostles, to the end of the second century • • 132 CHAP. VI. Congregational churches alone suited unto the ends of Christ in the institution of his church Kjg AN INQUIRY THE ORIGINAL, NATURE, INSTITUTION, POWER, ORDER, AND COMMUNION, EVANGELICAL CHURCHES; THE FIRST PART: WITH AN ANSWER TO THE DISCOURSE OF THE UNREASONABLENESS OF SEPARATION, WRITTEN BY DR. EDWARD STILLINGFLEET, DEAN OF PAUL'S; AND IN DEFENCE OF THE VINDICATION OF THE NONCONFORMISTS FROM THE GUILT OF SCHISM. Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls, — Jer. vi. 16. VOL. XX. TO THE READER. I THOUGHT to have wholly omitted the consideration of that part of the discourse of Dr. Stillingfleet in his preface, which concerneth the furtherance and promo- tion of the designs of the Papists, and interest of popery, by nonconformists ; and accordingly I passed it by in the ensuing discourses. For I supposed that all unpre- judiced persons would assign it unto the provocation which he seems to have received from those who an- swered his sermon, or otherwise, and so have passed it by, among such other excursions as divines are inci- dent unto in their controversial writings. For that no countenance was given unto it, either from truth or any useful end as unto the present state of the Protestant religion amongst us, is evident unto all. But things are fallen out more according unto the humour of the times, or rather the supposed interest of some, than any just rational projections. For what other success this book hath had, I know not, nor am solicitous. Certain it is that many, of the same mind and persuasion with him- self, have been encouraged and emboldened by it, con- fidently to report that the nonconformists are great pro- moters of the papal interest, yea, and do the work of the Papists to facilitate its introduction. For it is now made so evident in the preface of that book (I will not say on what topics, which seem noi wakeful thoughts in such an important cause, and such a season as this is) that no man need doubt of the truth of it. Some indeed think that it were better at this time, to consider how to get 3 2 IV . TO THE READER. out popery from amongst us, than to contend about the ways whereby it came in, as unto our present danger of it. But if nothing will prevail against the resolutions of others, influenced by interest, and the sweetness of present advantages, to desist from this inquiry, it will be necessary that such an account be given of the true reasons and means of the advance of popery in this na- tion, as shall give them occasion to consider themselves and their own ways; for we are to look for the causes of such effects in things and means that are suited and fitted to be productive of them, so as that they cannot but follow on their being and operation ; and not in cold stories, surmises, and far-fetched, or feigned inferences. And if we do reckon that the real advancement of reli- gion depends only on the secular advancement of some that do profess it, we may be mistaken in our measures, as others have been before us. But at present, the insinuations of that preface do seem to prevail much with those of the same party with its author ; who want nothing at any time but the coun- tenance of such a pen and story, to vent their ill will against nonconformists. Report, say they, and we will report it. But also as he said, ' Mendacium mendacio tegendum ne perpluat.' First, evil inventions alway tend unto, and stand in need of, new additions to render them useful unto their end, without which they quickly evaporate ; wherefore, lest the insinuations of this wor- thy person should not be sufficiently subservient unto the uniting of all Protestants in one common interest against popery, which was the original design of the doctor's sermon, some have added unto it, that which is homogeneal as unto truth, and so easily mixing with the other discourse ; that the nonconformists, some of them at least, do receive or have received money from the Papists, to act their affairs and promote their inte- rest. And although this be such a putid calumny, such TO THE READER. a malicious falsehood, such a frontless lie, as impu- dence itself would blush at being made an instrument to vent it, and withal extremely ridiculous ; yet because it seems useful unto the good end of uniting Protestants, and opposing popery, it hath not only been reported by sundry of the clergy, but embraced and divulged also by some of their weak and credulous followers, who seem to believe that other men's advantage is their re- ligion. But when the utmost bounds of modesty are passed, nothing but an outrage in lying and calumny, out of hopes that something will stick at last, can give countenance to men in such false accusations. And those by whom they are first whispered, probably un- derstand better than the nonconformists what influence money, or the things which they know how to turn in- to it, hath into their profession and actings in religion. It seems to me that some such men are afraid, lest the present opposition unto popery should issue in such an establishment of the Protestant religion, as that here- after it should not be in the disposal of any, nor in their power to make a bargain of it, either for their advan- tage or in their necessity. For unless we should sup- pose such a defect in common prudence, as is not charge- able on men of understanding in other affairs, it is hard to judge that these things can proceed from any other ground, but a design to increase distrusts and jealousies amongst Protestants, to heighten their differences, to exasperate and provoke them to animosities, to weaken the hands of each party by a disbelief of the sincerity of each other in the same common cause; whence, whe- ther it be designed or no, it will follow that we shall be all made a prey unto our restless adversaries. For what else but a strong inclination thereto can give the least credit or reputation to such vile insinuations, false surmises and fables (I do not say in the preface, but in VI TO THE READER. the reports that have been occasioned thereby), where- in folly and malice rival one another, against that plain, open, uncontrollable evidence, v^^hich the nonconform- ists always gave, and yet continue to give, of their faith- ful cordial adherence unto the Protestant religion and interest in the nation. And what now, if in way of re- taliation a charge should be laid and managed against those of the episcopal way, that they should contribute their assistance, whether knowingly, or being deluded (it is all one), to the introduction of popery ; would not all things be cast into an admirable posture amongst us, for an opposition thereunto ? But let none mistake nor ' deceive themselves, neither the past sufferings of the nonconformists, nor their present hopes of liberty, nor the reproaches cast upon them, shall shake them in their resolutions for a conjunction with all sincere Protestants, in the preservation of their religion, and opposition unto all popish designs whatever. And (to speak with mo- desty enough) as they have hitherto in all instances of zeal and duty for the preservation of the Protestant re- ligion, been as ready and forward as any other sort of men, so whatever may befall them, however they may be traduced, or falsely accused, they do and will con- tinue in giving the highest security, that conscience, profession, principles, interest, and actions can give, of their stability in the same cause. Only they desire to be excused, if they make not use of this notable engine for opposing of popery, namely, the stirring up, at this present time, of jealousies, fears, and animosities amongst Protestants, which others judge serviceable unto that end. But that which animates all these insinuations, charges, and reports, is our thankful acceptance of the indulgence granted by his majesty by a public declara- tion some years ago ; whereby it should seem the Pa- pists thought to make some advantage, though they TO THE HEADER. vii were deceived in their expectation. I must needs say, that whatever be the true case in reference thereto in point of law, that in my judgment it scarcely answereth that loyalty and regard unto his majesty's honour, which some men profess, when all his actions are suited to their interests, to continue such outcries about that which was his own sole act, by the advice of his council. We did indeed thankfully accept and make use of this royal favour ; and after that for so many years we had been exposed to all manner of suiferings and penalties, whereby multitudes were ruined in their estates, and some lost their lives, and that without hopes of any remission of severity from the parliament that then sat, by their mistake of the true interest of the kingdom, wherein alone they did not miss it, we were glad to take a little breathing space from our troubles, under his majesty's royal protection, designed only as an expedient (as was usual in former times) for the peace and prosperity of the kingdom, until the whole matter might be settled in parliament. And if this were a crime, ' habetis confitentem reum' as to my part. But because I know myself herein peculiarly reflected on, I do avow, that never any one person in authority, dignity, or power in the nation, nor any one that had any relation unto public affairs, nor any from them. Papist or Protestant, did once speak one word to me, or advise with me, about any indulgence or toleration to be granted unto Papists ; I challenge all the world who are otherwise minded, to intermit their service for a season unto the great false accuser, and prove the contrary if they can. The persons are suffi- ciently known of whom they may make their inquiry. But I can cast this also into the same heap or bun- dle of other false surmises and reports concerning me, almost without number ; which it would be a wonder VIU TO THE READER. that some men should pretend to believe and divulge as they have done, if we were bound to judge that their charity and prudence were proportionable unto their dignities and promotions. These things must be, whilst interest, with hopes and fears, vain love, and hatred thence arising, do steer the minds of men. But what if we have not designed the prevalence or introduction of popery, yet being a company of silly fellows, we have suffered ourselves to be wheedled by the Jesuits, to be a-ctive for the rutting of our own throats ; for we are full well satisfied, that we should be the very first who should drink of the cup of their fury, could they ruin the Protestant interest in Eng- land. And into such an unhappy posture of affairs are we fallen, that whereas it is evident we do nothing for the promotion of popery, but only pray against it, preach against it, write against it, instruct the people in principles of truth whereon to avoid it ; and cor- dially join with all true Protestants in the opposition of it, wherein we are charged with an excess that is like to spoil all ; yet these crafty blades know how to turn it all unto their advantage. As it should seem, therefore, there remains nothing for nonconformists to do in this matter, but to bind themselves hand and foot, and give themselves up unto the power of the Papists ; for all they do against them, doth but pro- mote their interest. But this I am persuaded they will be greatly unwilling unto, unless they are well assured, that their episcopal friends will be more ready to ex- pose themselves to hazard for their preservation and deliverance, than yet they have reason to expect that they will. But for my part I was a long time since taught an expedient by an eminent personage for the freeing myself from any inclination to a compliance with popery, and that in the instance of himself. For TO THE READER. IX being in Ireland when there was, in former days, a great noise about reconciliation ; a person of his own order and degree in the court of England, wrote unto him to inform him of a report, that he was inclined to a reconciliation with popery, or a compliance on good terms with the church of Rome ; and withal de- sired him, that, if it were so, he would communicate unto him the reason of his judgment. But that great and wise personage, understanding full well whereunto these things tended, returned no answer, but this only : That he knew no reason for any such report; for he was sure, that he believed the pope to be antichrist • which put an absolute period unto the intercourse. And I can insist on the same defensative, against forty such arguments as are used to prove us compliant with the papal interest ; and so I believe can all the non- conformists. And if this be not enough I can, for my part, subscribe unto the conclusion which that most eminent champion of the Protestant religion in Eng- land, namely, Whitaker, gives unto his learned dis- putation about antichrist; ' Igitur,' saith he, ' sequa- mur prseeuntem Spiritum Sanctum, et libere dicamus defendamus, clamemus, et per eum qui vivit in Eeter- num juremus, pontificem Romanumesse antichristum.' If this will not suffice, we know better how to spend our remaining hours of life and peace, than in contending about impertinent stories and surmises, ex- haled by wit and invention out of the bog of secular interest. And shall therefore only assure those by whom we are charged, in the pulpit, or coffee-houses or from the press, to countenance the promotion of the papal interest in the nation, that as they deal unjustly with us herein, and weaken the Protestant interest what lies in them ; so let them and others do and say what they please, nothing shall ever shake us in X TO THE READER. our resolution, by tlie help of God, to abide in a firm conjunction with all sincere Protestants for the pre- servation of our religion, and in opposition to the Papists ; yea, that we would do so with our lives at the stake, if there were none left to abide in the same testimony but ourselves ; but if they think that there is no way for us to be serviceable against popery, but by debauching our consciences with that conformity which they prescribe unto us, we beg their pardon, we are of another mind. THE PREFACE. An examination of the general principles of Dr. Stillingfleet's hook of the Unreasonableness of Separation. 1 HE differences and contests among professed Christians about the nature, power, order, rule, and residence of the gospel church-state, with the interest of each dissenting party therein, have not only been great, and of long conti- nuance, but have also so despised all ways and means of allaying or abatement, that they seem to be more and more inflamed every day ; and to threaten more pernicious con- sequents, than any they have already produced ; which yet have been of the worst of evils that the world for some ages hath groaned under. For the communion so much talked of amongst churches, is almost come only unto an agree- ment and oneness in design for the mutual and forcible extermination of one another ; at least this is the professed principle of them who lay the loudest claim to the name and title, with all the rights and privileges, of the church. Nor are others far remote from the same design, who ad- judge all who dissent from themselves into such a condition, as wherein they are much inclined to think it meet they should be destroyed. That which animates this contest, which gives it life and fierceness, is a supposed enclosure of certain privileges and advantages, spiritual and temporal, real or pretended, unto the church-state contended about. Hence most men seem to think that the principal, if not their only concernment in religion, is of what church they are ; so as that a dissent from them is so evil, as that there is almost nothing else that hath any very considerable evil in it. When this is once well riveted in their minds by them whose secular advantages lie in the enclosure, they are in a readiness to bear a share in all the evils that un- avoidably ensue on such divisions. By this means, among others, is the state or condition of Christian religion, as unto its public profession, become at this day so deplorable, as 12 THE PREFACE. cannot well be expressed. What with the bloody and de- solating wars of princes and potentates, and what with the degeneracy of the community of the people from the rule of the gospel in love, meekness, self-denial, holiness, zeal, the universal mortification of sin, and fruitfulness in good works, the profession of Christianity is become but a sad representation of the virtues of him who calls out of dark- ness into his marvellous light. Neither doth there seem at present to be any design or expectation in the most for the ending of controversies about the church, but force and the sword ; which God forbid. It is therefore high time that a sober inquiry be made, whether there be any such church-state of divine institu- tion as those contended about. For if it should appear upon trial, that indeed there is not, but that all the fierce digladiations of the parties at variance, with the doleful ef- fects that attend them, have proceeded on a false supposi- tion, in an adherence whereunto they are confirmed by their interests, some advances may be made towards their aba t- ment. However, if this may not be attained, yet directions may be taken from the discovery of the truth, for the use of them who are willing to be delivered from all concernment in these fruitless endless contests, and to reduce their whole practice in religion unto the institutions, rules, and com- mands of our Lord Jesus Christ. And where all hopes of a general reformation seem to fail, it savours somewhat of an unwarrantable severity, to forbid them to reform them- selves who are willing so to do ; provided they admit of no other rule in what they so do, but the declaration of the mind of Christ in the gospel, carrying it peaceably towards all men, and firmly adhering unto the faith once delivered unto the saints. To make an entrance into this inquiry, the ensuing dis- course is designed. And there can be no way of the ma- nagement of it, but by a diligent impartial search into the nature, order, power, and rule of the gospel church-state, as instituted, determined and limited by our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles. When we depart from this rule, so as not to be regulated by it in all instances of fact, or pleas of right that afterward fell out, we fall into the confusion of various presumptions, suited unto the apprehensions and THE PREFACE. 13 interests of men, imposed on them from the circumstances of the ages wherein they lived. Yet is it not to be denied, but that much light into the nature of apostolical institu- tions may be received from the declared principles and practices of the first churches for the space of two hundred years, or thereabouts. But that after this the churches did insensibly depart in various degrees from the state, rule, and order of the apostolical churches, must I suppose be acknowledged by all those who groan under the final issue of that gradual degeneracy in the papal antichristian tyranny. For Rome was not built in a day, nor was this change in- troduced at once, or in one age ; nor were the lesser altera- tions which began this declension, so prejudicial unto the being, order, and purity of the churches, as they proved afterward, through a continual additional increase in suc- ceeding ages. Having affirmed something of this nature in my brief vindication of the nonconformists from the guilt of schism, the reverend Dr. Stillingfleet in his late treatise, entitled, The Unreasonableness of Separation, doth not only deny it, but reflects with some severity upon the mention of it ; part. ii. sect. 3. pp. 225, 226, &c. I shall therefore on this occasion reassume the consideration of it, although it will be spoken unto also afterward. The words he opposeth are these : ' It is possible that an impartial account may, ere long, be given of the state and ways of the first churches, after the decease of the apostles, wherein it will be made to appear how they did insensibly deviate in many things from the rule of their first institu- tion ; so as that though their mistakes were of small mo- ment, and not prejudicial unto their faith and order, yet oc- casion was administered unto succeeding ages to increase those deviations, until they issued in a fatal apostacy.' I yet suppose these words inoffensive, and agreeable unto the sentiments of the generality of Protestants. For, 1. Unto the first churches after the apostles, I ascribe nothing but such small mistakes as did no way prejudice their faith or order. And that they did preserve the latter as well as the former, as unto all the substantial parts of it, shall be afterward declared. Nor do I reflect any more upon them, than did Hegesippus in Eusebius, who confines 14 THE PREFACE. the virgin purity of the church unto the days of the apo- stles; lib, 3. cap. 29. The greater deviations which I in- tend, began not until after the end of the second century. But, 2. To evince the improbability of any alteration in church rule and order, upon my own principles, he intimates both here and afterward, that ' my judgment is that the go- vernment of the church was democratical, and the power of it in the people in distinction from its officers ;' which is a great mistake ; I never thought, I never wrote, any such thing. I do believe that the authoritative rule or govern- ment of the church was, is, and ought to be, in the elders and rulers of it, being an act of the office-power committed unto them by Christ himself. Howbeit my judgment is, that they ought not to rule the church with force, tyranny, and corporal penalties, or without their own consent, whereof we shall treat afterward. There are also other mistakes in the same 'discourse, which I shall not insist upon. 3. This therefore is that which he opposeth, namely, that there was a deviation in various degrees, and falling off from the original institution, order, and rule of the church, until it issued in a fatal apostacy. This is that which on the present occasion must be farther spoken unto. For if this be not true, I confess there is an end of this con- test, and we must all acquiesce in the state, rule, and order, that was in the church of Rome before the reformation. But we may observe something yet farther in the vindica- tion and confirmation of this truth, which I acknowledge to be the foundation of all that we plead for in point of church reformation. As, 1. That the reasons and arguings of the doctor in this matter, the necessity of his cause compelling him thereunto, are the same with those of the Papists about the apostacy of their church, in faith, order, and worship, wherewith they are charged ; namely, when, where, how was this alteration made ? who made opposition unto it? and the like. When these inquiries are multiplied by the Papists, as unto the whole causes between them and us, he knows well enough how to give satisfactory answers unto them, and so might do in this particular unto himself also ; but I shall endeavour to ease him of that trouble at present. Only I THE PREFACE. 15 must say that it is fallen out somewhat unexpectedly, that the ruins of the principal bulwark of the papacy, which hath been effectually demolished by the writings of Pro- testants of all sorts, should be endeavoured to be repaired by a person, justly made eminent by his defence of the Pro- testant religion against those of the church of Rome. 2. But it may be pleaded, that although the churches following the first ages did insensibly degenerate from the purity and simplicity of gospel faith and worship, yet they neither did nor could do so from an adherence unto, and abiding in, their original constitution ; or from the due ob- servation of church-order, rule, and discipline, least of all could this happen in the case of diocesan episcopacy. I answer, 1 . That as unto the original of any thing that looks like diocesan episcopacy, or the pastoral relation of one person of a distinct order from presbyters unto many particular complete churches with officers of their own, with power and jurisdiction in them and over them, unto the abridg- ment of the exercise of that right and power unto their own edification, which every true church is intrusted withal by Jesus Christ, it is very uncertain, and was introduced by insensible degrees, according unto the effectual working of the mystery of iniquity. Some say that there were two distinct orders, namely, those of bishops and presbyters, in- stituted at first in all churches planted by the apostles ; but as the contrary may be evidently proved, so a supposi- tion of it would no way promote the cause of diocesan episcopacy, until those who plead for it have demonstrated the stateof the churches wherein they were placed to be of the same nature with those now called diocesan. Where- fore this hypothesis begins generally to be deserted, as it seems to be by this author. Others suppose that imme- diately upon, or at, or after the decease of the apostles, this new order of bishops was appointed to succeed the apostles in the government of the churches that were then gathered or planted. But how, when, or by whom, by what au- thority, apostolical and divine, or ecclesiastical only and human, none can declare ; seeing there is not the least foot- step of any such thing either in the Scripture or in the records that remain of the primitive churches. Others 16 THE PREFACE. think this new order of officers took its occasional rise from the practice of the presbyters of the church at Alex- andria, who chose out one among themselves constantly to preside in the rule of the church, and in all matters of order, unto whom they ascribed some kind of pre-eminence and dignity, peculiarly appropriating unto him the name of bishop. And if this be true as unto matter of fact, I reckon it unto the beginnings of those less harmful deviations from their original constitution, which I assigned unto primitive churches ; but many additions must be made hereunto, be- fore it will help the cause of diocesan episcopacy. What other occasions hereof were given or taken, what advan- tages were made use of to promote this alteration, shall be touched upon afterward. 2. Why may not the churches be supposed to have de- parted from their original constitution, order, and rule, as well as from their first faith and worship, which they did gradually in many successive ages, until both were utterly corrupted. The causes, occasions, and temptations leading unto the former, are to the full as pregnant as those leading unto the latter. For, 1. There was no vicious corrupt disposition of mind that began more early to work in church officers, nor did more grow and thrive in the minds of many, than ambition, with desire of pre-eminence, dignity, and rule. It is not to be supposed that Diotrephes was alone in his desire of pre- eminence, nor in the irregular actings of his unduly as- sumed authority. However we have one signal instance in him of the deviation that was in the church with him, from the rule of its original constitution. For he prevailed so far therein, as by his own single episcopal power to reject the authority of the apostles, and to cast them out of the church who complied not with his humour. How effigc- tually the same ambition wrought afterward, in many others possessing the same place in their churches with Diotrephes, is sufficiently evident in all ecclesiastical histories. It is far from being the only instance of the corruption of church- order and rule, by the influence of this ambition, yet it is one that is pregnant, which is given us by Ambrose, for saith he, * Ecclesia ut synagoga, seniores habuit, quorum sine consilio nihil agebatur in ecclesia ; quod qua negli- THE PREFACE. 17 gentia obsoleverit nescio, nisi forte doctorum desidia, aut magis superbia, dum soli volunt aliquid videri.' In 1 ad Timoth. cap. 5. It seems there was some alteration in church-rule and order in his time, whose beginning and progress he could not well discover and trace, but knew well enough, that so it was then come to pass. And if he who lived so near the times wherein such alterations were made, could not yet discover their first insinuation, nor their subtle progress, it.is unreasonable to exact a strict ac- count of us in things of the same nature, who live so many- ages after their first introduction. But this he judgeth, that it was the pride or ambition of the doctors of the church, which introduced that alteration in its order. Whereas, therefore, we see in the event, that all deviations from the original constitution of churches, all alterations in their rule and order, did issue in a compliance with the ambition of church-rulers, as it did in the papal church ; and this ambition was signally noted as one of the first de- praved inclinations of mind that wrought in ecclesiastical rulers, and which in the fourth and fifth centuries openly proclaimed itself unto the scandal of Christian religion, there was a greater disposition in them unto a deviation from the original institution, rule, and order of the church, no way suited unto the satisfaction of that ambition, than unto a defection from the purity of faith and worship, which yet also followed. 2. As the inclination of many lay towards such a devia- tion, so their interests lead them unto it, and their tempta- tions cast them upon it. For to acknowledge the truth unto our author and others, the rule and conduct of the church, the preservation of its order and discipline accord- ing unto its first institution, and the directions given in the Scripture about it, are, according unto our apprehension of these things, a matter so weighty in itself, so dangerous as unto its issue, attended with so many difficulties, trials, and temptations, laid under such severe interdictions of lordly power, or seeking either of wealth or dignity, that no wise men will ever undertake it, but merely out of a sense of a call from Christ unto it, and in compliance with that duty which he owes unto him. It is no pleasant thing unto flesh and blood, to be engaged in the conduct and oversight of VOL. XX. c 18 thjl preface. Christ's volunteers, to bear with their manners, to exercise all patience towards them in their infirmities and tempta- tions, to watch continually over their walkings and conver- sation, and thereon personally to exhort and admonish them all, to search diligently and scrupulously into the rule of the Scripture for their warranty in every act of their power and duty; under all their weaknesses and miscarriages, continuing a high valuation of them, as of the flock of God, * which he hath purchased with his own blood,' with sundry other things ofthe like kind, all under an abiding sense of the near approach of that great account which they must give of the whole trust and charge committed unto them, before the judgment-seat of Christ; for the most part peculiarly exposed unto all manner of dangers, troubles, and persecu- tions, without the least encouragement from wealth, power, or honour. It is no wonder, therefore, if many in the primi- tive times were willing gradually to extricate themselves out of this uneasy condition, and to embrace all occasions and opportunities of introducing insensibly another rule and order into the churches, that might tend more unto the exaltation of their own power, authority, and dignity, and free them in some measure from the weight of that im- portant charge, and continual care with labour, which a diligent and strict adherence unto the first institution of churches, and rules given for their order and government, in the Scripture, would have obliged them unto. And this was done accordingly ; until, in the fourth and fifth centu- ries and so onward, the bishops, under various titles, began by their arbitrary rules and canons, to dispose of the flock of Christ, to part and divide them among themselves, with- out their own knowledge or consent, as if they had con- quered them by the sword. This bishop shall have such a share and number of them under his power, and that other so many ; so far shall the jurisdiction of one extend, and so far that of another, was the subject of many of their decrees and laws for the rule of the church. But yet neither did they long keep within those bounds and limits which their more modest ambition had at first prescribed unto them ; but took occasion from these beginnings to contend among themselves about pre-eminence, dignity, and power, in which •JHE PREFACE. 19 the bishop of Rome at length remained master of the field, thereby obtaining a second conquest of the world. 3. That there was such a gradual deviation from the original institution of churches, their order and rule, is ma- nifest in the event. For the change became at length as great as the distance is between the gospel and the rule of Christ over his church, on the one hand, and the canon law with the pope or antichrist set over the church, on the other. This change was not wrought at once, not in one age, but by an insensible progress even from the days of the apostles unto those dark and evil times wherein the popes of Rome were exalted into an absolute tyranny over all churches, unto the satiety of their ambition. For, 4. This mystery of iniquity began to work in the days of the apostles themselves, in the suggestions of Satan and the lusts of men, though in a manner latent and imperceptible unto the wisest and best of men. For that this mystery of the iniquity consisted in the effectual workings of the pride, ambition, and other vices, of the minds of men, excited, enticed, and guided by the craft of Satan, until it issued in the idolatrous persecuting state of the church of Rome, wherein all church-rule, order, and worship of divine institu- tion was utterly destroyed or corrupted, we shall believe, until we see an answer given unto the learned writings of all sorts of Protestants whereby it hath been proved. These thino;s are sufficient to vindicate the truth of the assertion which the doctor opposeth, and to free it from his exceptions. But because, as was observed before, the sup- position hereof is the foundation of all our present contests about church order and rule, I shall yet proceed a little farther in the declaration of the way and manner whereby the apostacy asserted was begun and carried on. And I shall not herein insist on particular instances, nor make a transcription of stories out of ancient writers, giving evidence unto the truth, because it hath been abundantly done by others, especially those of Magdeburg in the sixth and seventh chapters of their Centuries, unto whose observations many other learned men have made considerable additions ; but I shall only treat in general of the causes, ways, and manner, of the beginning and progress of the apostacy or declension of churches from their first institution, which fell c 2 20 THE PREFACE. out in the successive ages after the apostles, especially after the end of the second century, until when divine institutions, as unto the substance of them, were preserved entire. Decays in any kind, even in things natural and political, are hardly discernible but in and by their effects. When an hectic distemper befalls the body of any man, it is ofttimes not to be discerned until it is impossible to be cured. The Roman historian gives this advice unto his readers ; after he hath considered the ways and means whereby the empire came to its greatness ; ' labente deinde disciplina velut dis- sidentes primo mores sequatur animo ; deinde ut magis ma- gisque lapsi sint, tum ire cseperint prsecipites, donee ad hsec tempora, quibus nee vitia nostra, nee remediapati possumus, periculum est.' Liv. Prsefat. His words do not give us a more graphical description of the rise and decay, as unto virtue and vice, of the Roman empire, than of the Roman church, as unto its rise by holiness and devotion, and its ruin by sensuality, ambition, the utter neglect of the discipline of Christ, and superstition. But yet let any man peruse that historian who wrote with this express design, he shall hardly fix upon many of those instances whereby the empire came into that deplorable condition, wherein it was not able to bear its distempers nor its cure, such as was the state of the church before the reformation. But besides the common difficulty of discovering the beginnings and gradual progression of decays, declensions, and apostacy, those which we treat of were begun and carried on in a mysterious manner, that is, by the effectual working of the mystery of iniquity. As this almost hid totally the work of it from the ages wherein it was wrought, so it renders the discovery of it now accomplished, the more difficult. Passengers in a ship setting out to sea, ofttimes discern not the progressive motion of the ship ; yea, for awhile the land rather seems to move from them, than the vessel wherein they are from it ; but after a season the consideration of what distance they are at from their port, gives them sufficient assurance of the progress that hath been made. So this declension of the churches from their primitive order and institution, is discoverable, rather by measuring the distance between what it left, and what it arrived unto, than by express instances of it. But yet is it not altogether like unto that of a ship at THE PREFACE. 21 sea, butj-ather unto the way of a serpent on a rock, which leaves some slime in all its turnings and windings, whereby it may be traced. Such marks are left on record, of the serpentine works of this mystery of iniquity, as whereby it may be traced, with more or less evidence from its original interests unto its accomplishment. The principal promoting causes of this defection on the part of men, were those assigned by St. Ambrose in one instance of it, namely, the negligence of the people, and the ambition of the clergy. I speak as unto the state, rule, discipline, and order of the church ; for as unto the doc- trine and worship of it, there were many other causes and means of their corruption, which belong not unto our pre- sent purpose. But as unto the alterations that were begun and carried on in the state, order, and rule of the church, they arose from those springs of negligence on the one hand, and ambition on the other, with want of skill and wisdom to manage outward occurrences and incidencies, or what alteration fell out in the outward state and condition of the church in this world. For hence it came to pass, that in the accession of the nations in general unto the pro- fession of the gospel, church order was suited and framed unto their secular state, when they ought to have been brought into the spiritual state and order of the church, leaving their political state entire unto themselves. Herein, I say, did the guides of the church certainly miss their rule, and depart from it, in the days of Constantine the emperor, and afterward under other Christian emperors, when whole towns, cities, yea, and nations offered at once to join them- selves unto it. Evident it is, that they were not wrought hereunto by the same power, nor induced unto it on the same motives, or led by the same means with those who formerly under persecution were converted unto the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this quickly manifested itself in the lives and conversations of many, yea, of the most of. them. Hence those which were wise, quickly understood, that what the church had got in multitude and number, it had lost in the beauty and glory of its holy profession. Chrysostom in particular complains of it frequently, and in many places cries out, What have I to do with this multi- tude, a few serious believers are more worth than them all. 22 THE PREFACE. However, the guides of the church thought meet to receive them, with all their multitudes, into their communion, at least so far as to place them under the jurisdiction of such and sucli episcopal sees ; for hereby their own power, authority, dignity, revenues, were enlarged and mightily increased. On this occasion, the ancient primitive way of admitting members into the church being relinquished, the consideration of their personal qualifications, and real con- version unto God, omitted, such multitudes being received as could not partake in all acts and duties of communion with those particular churches whereunto they were dis- posed, and being the most of them unfit to be ruled by the power and influence of the commands of Christ on their minds and consciences, it was impossible but that a great alteration must ensue in the state, order, and rule of the churches, and a great deviation from their original insti- tution. Men may say that this alteration was necessary, that it was good and useful, that it was but the accommo- dation of general rules unto especial occasions and circum- stances ; but that there was an alteration hereon in all these things, none can with modesty deny. And this is enough unto my present design, being only to prove, that such alterations and deviations did of old fall out. Neither ought we to cover the provoking degeneracy of the gene- rality of Christians, in the fourth and fifth centuries, with those that followed. The consideration of it is necessary unto the vindication of the holy providence of God, in the government of the world, and of the faithfulness of Christ in his dealing with his church. For there hath been no nation in the world which publicly received Christian re- ligion, but it hath been wasted and destroyed by the sword of pagan idolaters, or such as are no better than they. At first all the provinces of the western empire were one after another made desolate by the pagan nations of the northern • countries; who themselves did afterward so turn Christians, as to lay among them the foundation of antichristianism ; Rev. xvii. 12, 13. The eastern empire, comprehending the residue of the provinces that had embraced the Christian religion, was first desolated in the chief branches of it, by the Saracens, and at length utterly destroyed by the Turks. And I pray God that the like fate doth not at this day hang THE PREFACE. 23 over the reformed nations, as from their profession they are called. Do we think that all this was without cause ? Did God give up his inheritance to the spoil of barbarous in- fidels, without such provocations, as the passing by whereof was inconsistent with the hohness and righteousness of his rule? It was not the wisdom, nor the courage, nor the mul- titude of their enemies, but their own sins, wickedness, superstition, and apostacy from the rule of gospel order, worship, and obedience, which ruined all Christian nations. But to give farther evidence hereunto, I shall consider the causes aforementioned distinctly and apart. And the first of them is the negligence of the people themselves. But in this negligence I comprise both the ignorance, sloth, worldliness, decay in gifts and graces, with superstition in sundry instances, that in many of them were the causes of it. Dr. Stillingfleet pleads that 'it is very unlikely that the people would forego their interest in the government of the churches, if ever they had any such thing, without great noise and trouble. For,' saith he, ' government is so nice and tender a thing, that every one is so much concerned for his share in it, that men are not easily induced to part with it. Let us suppose the judgment of the church to have been democratical at first, as Dr. Owen seems to do, is it probable that the people would have been wheedled out of the sweetness of government so soon, and made no noise about it?' p. 226. His mistake about my judgment herein hath been marked before. No other interest or share in the government is ascribed by us unto the people, but that they may be ruled by their own consent, and that they may be allowed to yield obedience in the church, unto the com- mands of Christ and his apostles, given unto them for that end. This interest they neither did nor could forego, without their own sin and guilt, in neglecting the exercise of the gifts and graces which they ought to have had, and the- performance of the duties whereunto they were obliged. But for any engagement on their minds from the ' sweetness of government,' wherein their concern principally consists in an understanding voluntary obedience unto the commands of Christ, they had nothing of it. Take also, in genera), government to be, as the government of the church is, merely a duty, labour, and service, without those advantages 24 THE PREFACi:. of power, ease, dignity, and wealth, which have been an- nexed unto it ; and it will be hard to discover such a nicety or sweetness in it, as to oblige unto pertinacy in an ad- herence unto it. If the government of the church were ap- prehended to consist in men's giving themselves wholly to the word and prayer, in watching continually over the flock ; in accurate carefulness to do and act nothing in the church but in the name and authority of Christ, by the warranty of his commands, with a constant exercise of all gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit which they have received, in these and all other duties of their office, and that without the least appearance of domination, or the procuring of dignity, secular honours, and revenues thereby, it may be, a share and interest in it would not be so earnestly coveted and sought after, as at present it is. Nor is there anymore per- tinency in his ensuing supposal of a 'change in the govern- ment of the congregational churches in London, in setting up one man to rule over them all and to appoint their several teachers,' &c. p. 227. 'which could notbedone without noise/ It is in vain to fear it, Non isto vivimus illic Quo tu rere, niodo, and impertinent in this case to suppose it. For it speaks of a sudden total alteration in the state, order, and rule of churches to be made at once ; whereas our discourse is of that which was gradual in many ages by degrees almost im- perceptible. But yet I can give no security that the churches of our way shall not, in process of time, decline from their primitive constitution and order, either in their power and spirit, in faith and love, or in the outward practice of them, unless they continually watch against all beginnings and oc- casions of such declensions, and frequently renew their re- formation ; or if it be otherwise, they will have better success than any churches in the world ever yet had, even those that were of the planting of the apostles themselves, as is mani- fested in the judgment that our Lord Jesus Christ passed on them. Rev. ii. and iii. The negligence of the people which issued in their unfitness to be disposed of and ruled accord- ing to the principles of the first constitution of church-order, may be considered either as it gave occasion unto those lesser deviations from the rule, which did not much preju- THE PREFACE. 25 dice the faith and order of the churches, or as it occasioned greater alterations in the ensuing ages. And, 1. The great, and perhaps in some things excessive, ve- neration which they had of their bishops or pastors, did pro- bably occasion in them some neglect of their own duty. For they were easily induced hereon, not only implicitly to leave the management of all church affairs unto them, but also zealously to comply with their mistakes. The church of Smyrna, giving an account of the martyrdom of holy Poly- carpus, tells us, that when he ascended the pile wherein he was to be burned, ' that he pulled off his own clothes, and endeavoured to pull off his shoes, which he had not done before, because the faithful strove among themselves who should soonest touch his body;' Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 15. I think there can be no veneration due to a man, which was not so unto that great and holy person. But those who did so express it, might easily be induced to place too much of their religion in an implicit compliance with them unto whom they are so devoted. Hence a negligence in them- selves as unto their particular duties did ensue. They were quickly far from esteeming it their duty to say unto their pastor or bishop, that he ' should take heed unto the mini- stry which he had received in the Lord to fulfil it,' as the apostle enjoins the Colossians to say to Archippus their pas- tor; chap. iv. 17. but began to think that the glory of obse- quious obedience was all that was left unto them. And hence did some of the clergy begin to assume to themselves, and to ascribe unto one another, great swelling titles of ho- nour, and names of dignity (amongst which the blasphemous title of his holiness was at length appropriated unto the bi- shop of Rome), wherein they openly departed from aposto- lical simplicity and gravity. But these things fell out after the writing of the Epistle of Clemens, of those of the church of Vienna, and Smyrna, wherein no such titles do appear. 2. Many of the particular churches of the first planta- tions increasing greatly in the number of their members, it was neither convenient nor safe that the whole multitude should on all occasions come together, as they did at first, to consult about their common concerns, and discharge the duties of their communion. For by reason of danger from 2G THE PREFACE. their numerous conventions, they met in several parcels, as they had opportunity. Herewith they were contented, un- less it were upon the greater occasions of choosing their officers and the like, whereon the whole church met to- gether. - This made them leave the ordinary administration of all things in the church unto the elders of it, not con- cerning themselves farther therein, but still continuing mem- bers of the same particular church. It is altogether impro- bable what Platina from Damasus affirms in the life of Eva- ristus, about the end of the first century, that he distributed the faithful at Rome into distinct titles or parishes, with dis- tinct presbyters of their own. For it is apparent that in those days wherein persecution was at its height, that the meetings of believers were occasional, with respect unto their security, ofttimes by night, sometimes in caves under the earth, or in deserted burial-places, at best in private houses. And they had for what they did the example of the apostolical churches ; Acts, i. 13, 14. ii. 46. iv. 24, 31. xii. 12. xviii. 7. xx. 8. xxi. 18. Instancesof such meetings may be multiplied, especially in the church of Rome. And to manifest that they took this course upon necessity, when peace began to be restored at any time unto them, they de- signed temples that might receive the whole multitude of the church together. The distribution mentioned into titles and parishes, began a long time after, and in very few places within three hundred years. In this state, it is easy to con- ceive what alterations might fall out in some churches from their primitive order, especially how the people might de- sert their diligence and duty in attending unto all the con- cerns of the church. And if those things which the apostles wrote unto them in their epistles, the instructions, direc- tions, and commands how in all things they should act and deport themselves in the church, be esteemed to be obliga- tory in all ages, I cannot see how after the second century they were much complied withal, unless it were in the single instance of choosing their own officers or rulers. But, secondly. After these there ensued greater occa- sions of greater variations from the primitive institution and order of the churches, on the part of the people. For, 1. Such numbers of them were received into a relation unto particular churches, as was inconsistent with the ends THE PREFACE. 27 of their institution, and the observance of the communion re- quired in them, as will afterward appear. And the reliefs that were invented for this inconveniency in distinct conven- tions, supplied with the administration of the word and sa- crament from the first church, or by stated titles, did alter the state of the church. Among those multitudes which were added unto the churches, especially in the fourth century, many, if not the most, did come short inexpressibly in knowledge, gifts, grace, holiness, and uprightness of conversation, of the pri- mitive Christians, as the writers of that age complain. And being hereby incapable of walkingaccordingunto the order, rule, and discipline of the apostolical churches, there seemed to be a necessity of another rule, of other ways and means, for their government, without their own concurrence or con- sent, than what was at first appointed, which were gradually introduced ; whence the original of a multitude of those canons, which were arbitrarily invented afterward for their rule and government, is to be derived. And it may be made to appear, that the accommodation of the rule, yea, and of the worship of the church in the several ages of it, unto the ignorance, manners, and inclinations of the people, who were then easily won unto the outward profession of Christian re- ligion, was one means of the ruin of them both, until th^y issued in downright tyranny and idolatry. But much more of the cause of the deviation of the churches from their primitive rule and order, is to be ascribed unto the ambition and love of pre-eminence in many of the clergy, or rulers of the churches ; but this is no place nor sea- son to manifest this by instances, besides it hath been done by others. I shall therefore inquire only into one or two things in particular, which are of principal consideration in the declension of the churches from their primitive institu- tion, order, and rule. And, 1. It is evident, that there was an alteration made in the state of the church as to its officers. For it issued at last in popes, patriarchs, cardinals, metropolitan and diocesan bishops, who were utterly foreign unto the state and order of the primitive churches, "and that for some ages. Nor were these officers introduced into the church at once, or in one age, nor with the powers which they afterward claimed and 28 THE PREFACE. assumed unto themselves. . It was done gradually in many succeeding ages, working by a design to accommodate the state of the church unto the political state of the empire in the distribution of its government. 2. The beginnings of this great alteration were small, nor at all perceived in the days wherein they were first acted. Nor is it agreed, nor as far as I see, will it ever be agreed, among learned men, when first a disparity among the ordi- nary officers of the church, in order, degree, or power, did first begin, nor by what means it was brought about. The apostles were all equal among themselves, no one had either office or office-power above others. So were all the ordinary bishops and presbyters mentioned in the Scripture, as shall be proved afterward ; no intimation is given of any pre-emi- nence or superiority amongst them, of one over others. Yet afterward in the third and fourth centuries, much of that nature appears. It begins to be granted that the bishops and elders mentioned in the Scripture were the same, and that there was no difference in name, office, or power, during the apostles' times, which was the judgment of Jerome, and our author seems to me to be of the same mind ; p. 267. But they say, that after the decease of the apostles, there were some appointed to succeed them in that part of their office, which concerned the rule of many churches. And this they say was done for the prevention of schism, but with ill suc- cess; for, as Clemens affirms, that the apostles foresaw that there would be strife and contention about episcopacy, even when it was confined unto its original order, because of the ambition of Diotrephes and others like him; so it became much more the cause of all sorts of disorders in schisms and heresies, when it began to exalt itself in dignity and reputa- tion. The first express attempt to corrupt and divide a church, made from within itself, was that in the church of Jerusalem, made by Thebulis, because Simon Cleopas was chosen bishop, and he was refused; Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 21. Thesamerisehad the schisms of the Novatians and Donatists, the heresies of Arius and others. Neither is there any thing certain in this pretended succession of some persons unto the apostles in that part of their 'office which concerns the rule of many churches by one overseer. No intimation of any such appointment by the apostles, or any of them, no THE PREFACE. 29 record of the concurrence of the churches themselves, in and unto this alteration, can be produced. Nor is there any analogy between the extraordinary power of every apostle over all churches, and care for them, and the ordinary power of a bishop over a small number, which lot or accident dis- poseth unto him. Besides, it cannot be proved, no instance can be given, or hath been for the space of two hundred years or until the end of the second century, of any one per- son who had the care of more churches than one committed unto him, or did take the charge of them on himself. But whereas this change did fall out, and appears evidently so to have done in the fourth century, w^e may briefly inquire into the causes and occasions of it. Churches were originally planted in cities and towns for the most part ; not absolutely ; for the word was preached and churches gathered by the apostles Kara iroXcig koX x^opag, as Clemens testifieth. In such cities there was but one church, whereunto all believers did belong. Imention this the rather, because our present author, who is pleased frequently to mis- take my words and principles, affirms ' that the thing which I should have proved, is, that there were more churches at first planted in one city than one.' I know not why I should be obliged to do so, because 1 never said so. I do believe indeed that there may be more particular churches than one, in one city ; and that sometimes it is better that it should be so, than that all believers in the same city should be kept up unto one congregation to the obstruction of their edification. But that there were originally, or in the days of the apostles, more churches than one, in any one city or town, I do wholly deny ; though I grant at the same time there were churches in villages also, as will appear afterv/ard. But though there was one church only in one town or city, yet all the believers that belonged unto that church, did not live in that city, but sundry of them in the fields and villages about. So Justin Martyr tells us, that on the first day of the week, when the church had its solemn assemblies, all the members of it in the city and out of the country the fields and villages about, met together in the same place. In process of time these believers in the country did greatly increase, by the means of the ministry of the city church, which diligently attended unto the conversion of all sorts of men, with some extraordi- 30 THE PIIEFACE. nary helps besides. But hereon the example of the apostles was overseen. For on this account of the conversion of many unto the faith, in the towns and villages of any province, they erected and planted new churches among them, not obliging them all unto that first church, from whence the word went forth for their conversion. But those who suc- ceeded them, being hindered by many reasons which may be easily recounted, from thoughts of the multiplication of churches, chose rather to give the believers scattered up and down in the country, occasional assistance by presbyters of their own, than to dispose them into a church-state and order. But after awhile their number greatly increasing, they were necessitated to supply them with a constant mi- nistry in several parcels or divisions. The ministers or elders thus disposed amongst them for their edification in the admi- nistration of the ordinances of the gospel, did still relate unto and depend upon that city first church, from whence they came. But the numbers of believers daily increasing, and a succession of presbyters in their distinct assemblies being found necessary, they came to be called churches, though continuing in dependance, both for a supply of officers and for rule, on the first or city church, whereunto they esteemed themselves to belong. This was the way and manner of the multiplication of Christian assemblies through- out the Roman empire. And hereby all the bishops of the first churches became by common consent to have a distinc- tion from and pre-eminence above the presbyters that were fixed in the country, and a rule over those assemblies or churches themselves. And therefore when they met together in the council of Nice, among the first things they decreed, one was, to confirm unto the bishops of the great cities, that power over the neighbouring churches which they had en- joined from this occasional rise and constitution of them. Hereby was a difference and distinction between bishops and presbyters, between mother and dependant churches, intro- duced, equally almost in all places, without taking any notice of the departure which was therein from the primitive pat- tern and institution. But these things fell out long after the days of the apostles; namely, in the third and fourth cen- turies, there being no mention of them before. But secondly, There was another occasion of this altera- THE PREFACE. 31 tion which took place before that insisted on. For in many of those city churches, especially when the number of be- lievers much increased, there were many bishops or elders who had the rule of them in common. This is plain in the Scripture, and in the ensuing records of church affairs. And they had all the same office, the same power, and were of the same order. But after awhile, to preserve order and decency among themselves, and in all their proceedings, they chose one from among them, who should preside in all church affairs for order's sake, unto whom, after a season, the name of bishop began to be appropriated. Whether the rule they proceeded by herein, was to choose them unto this dignity who had been first converted unto the faith, or first called and ordained to be presbyters, or had respect unto the gifts and graces of those whom they chose, is not certain. But this way began in those churches, wherein some extraordinary officer, apostle, or evangelist had long resided. It cannot, therefore, be doubted but they had some design to represent hereby somewhat of the dignity of such an officer, and a re- semblance of the continuance of his presence among them ; and this I suppose fell out early in the churches, though without ground or warrant. And the principal pastors of other churches, which had not any great number of elders in them, yet quickly assumed unto themselves the dignity which the others had attained. Justin Martyr, in the account he gives of the church, its order, rule, worship, and discipline in his days, mentions one singular person in one church, whom he calls UpoetjTbtg, who presided in all the affairs of the church, and himself admi- nistered all the sacred ordinances every Lord's day, unto the whole body of the church gathered and met, out of the city and the villages about. This was the bishop ; and if any one desired this office, he desired a good work, as the apostle speaks. Whatever accessions were made unto the church, these JJpoecfTcoTsg, which were either the first converted to the faith, or the first ordained presbyters, or obtained their pre-eminence, ' non pretio, sed testimonia,' as Tertullian speaks, upon the account of their eminency in gifts and holiness, were yet quickly sensible of their own dignity and prselation, and by all means sought the enlargement of it. 32 THE PREFACE. supposing that it belonged unto the honour and order of the church itself. Under this state of things, the churches increasing every- day in number and wealth, growing insensibly more and more (indies magis magisque decrescente disciplina) into a form and state exceeding the bounds of their original institution, and becoming unwieldy as unto the pursuit of their ends unto mutual edification, it is not hard to conjecture how a stated distinction between bishops and presbyters did after- ward ensue. For as the first elder, bishop, or pastor, had obtained this small pre-eminence in the church wherein he did preside, and the assemblies of the villages about, so the management of those affairs of the church, which they had in communion with others, was committed unto him, or assumed by him. This gave them the advantage of meeting in synods and councils afterward, wherein they did their own business unto the purpose. Hereon in a short time the people were deprived of all their interest in the state of the church, so as to be governed by their own consent, which indeed they also had rendered themselves unmeet to enjoy and exercise; other elders were deprived of that power and authority which is committed unto them by Christ; and thrust down into an order or degree inferior unto that wherein they were originally placed ; new officers in the rule of the church, utterly unknown to the Scripture and primitive antiquity, were introduced ; all charitable donations unto the church, for the maintenance of the ministry, the poor, and the re- demption of captives, were for the most part abused, to ad- vance the revenues of the bishops ; such secular advantages in honour, dignity, and wealth were annexed unto episcopal sees, as that ambitious men shamefully contested for the attaining of them, which in the instance of the bloody con- flict between the parties of Damasus and Ursacius at Rome, Ammianus Marcellinus, a heathen, doth greatly and wisely reflect upon. But yet all these evils were as nothing in com- parison of that dead sea of the Roman tyranny and idolatry, whereinto at last these bitter waters ran, and were therein totally corrupted. I thought also to have proceeded with an account of the declension of the churches from their first institution, in THE PREFACE. 33 their matter, form, and rule. But because this would draw- forth my discourse beyond my present intention, I shall forbear, having sufficiently vindicated my assertion in this one instance. It is no part of my design to give an answer at large unto the great volume that Dr. Still hath written on this occasion ; much less to contend about particular sayings, opinions, the practices of this or that man, which it is filled withal. But whereas his treatise, so far as the merit of the cause is concerned in it, doth consist of two parts, the first whereof contains such stories, things, and sayings, as may load the cause and persons whom he opposeth with preju- dices in the minds of others, in which endeavour he exceeds all expectation ; and what doth more directly concern the argument in hand ; I shall at the end of the ensuing dis- course speak distinctly unto all that is material of the se- cond sort, especially so far as is needful, unto the defence of my former Vindication of the Nonconformists from the Guilt of Schism. For the things of the first sort, wherein the doctor doth so abound both in his preface and in the first part of his book, as to manifest himself, I fear, to be a little too sen- sible of provocation (for the actings of interest in wise men are usually more sedate), I shall only oppose some general considerations unto them, without arguing or contending about particulars, which would be endless and useless. And whereas he hath gathered up almost every thing that hath been done, written, or spoken, to the prejudice of the cause and persons whom he opposeth (though frequently charged before), adding the advantage of his style and method unto their reinforcement; I shall reduce the whole unto a few heads which seem to be of the greatest importance. I shall leave him without disturbance unto the satisfac- tion he hath in his own love, moderation, and condescension, expressed in his preface. Others may possibly call some things in it unto a farther account. But the first part of his book is cast under two heads. 1. A commendation of the first reformers and their re- formation, with some reflections upon all that acquiesce not therein, as though they esteemed themselves wiser and better than they. From this topic proceed many severe re- VOL. XX. D 34 THE PREFACE. flections and some reproaches. The other consists in a story of the rise and progress of separation from the church of England, with great miscarriages among them who first attempted it, and the opposition made unto them by those who were themselves nonconformists. The whole is closed with the difference and debate between the divines of the assembly of the Presbyterian way, and the dissenting bre- thren, as they were then called. Concerning these things the discourse is so prolix, and so swelled with long quota- tions, that I scarce believe any man would have the patience to read over a particular examination of it ; especially con- sidering how little the cause in hand is concerned in the whole story, whether it be told right or wrong, candidly or with a design to make an advantage unto the prejudice of others. I shall therefore only mark something with respect unto both these heads of the first part of the book, which if 1 mistake not will lay it aside from being of any use to our present cause. 1. As unto the first reformers and reformation in the days of king Edward, the plea from them and it, which we have been long accustomed unto, is, that they were persons great, wise, learned, holy ; that some of them died martyrs ; that the work of the reformation was greatly owned and blessed of God ; and therefore our non-acquiescency there- in, but desiring a farther reformation of the church than what they saw and judged necessary, is unreasonable, and that what we endeavour therein, though never so peaceably, is schismatical. But, 1. None do more bless God for the first reformers, and the work they did, than we do ; none have a higher esteem of their persons, abilities, graces, and sufferings, than we have ; none cleave more firmly to their doctrine, which was the life and soul of the reformation, than we ; nor desire more to follow them in their godly design. They are not of us who have declared that the death of king Edward was a happiness or no unhappiness to the church of England, nor who have reflected on the reformation as needless, and given assurance, that if it had not been undertaken, salvation might have been obtained safely enough in the church of Rome ; nor were they of us who have questioned the zeal and pru- dence of the martyrs in those days of suffering. We have • THE PREFACE. 35 other thoughts concerning them, another kind of remem- brance of them. 2. The titles assigned unto them of wise, learned, holy, zealous, are fully answered by that reformation of the church in its doctrine and worship which God wrought by their ministry, so that none without the highest ingratitude can derogate any thing from them in these things. But it is no disparagement unto any of the sons of men, any officers of the church since the days of the apostles, first reformers, or those that followed them, to judge that they were not in- fallible, that their work was not absolutely perfect like the work of God, whereunto nothing can be added nor aught taken away. Wherefore, 3. We are not obliged to make what they did, and what they attained unto, and what they judged meet as unto the government and worship of the cliurch, to be our absolute rule, from which it should be our sin to dissent or depart. They never desired nor designed that it should be so ; for to do so, would have been to have cast out one papacy, and to have brought in another. And the arguments of the Papists for their absolute adherence unto the men of their veneration, those who have been formerly of great reputa- tion in their church, for learning, holiness, and devotion, are as forcible unto them, as any can be unto us for an ad- herence unto the first reformers in all things ; but yet are they not excused in their errors thereby. Had we received a command from heaven to hear them in all things, it had altered the case, but this we have received only with respect unto Jesus Christ, and shall therefore in these things ulti- mately attend only unto what he speaks. And we have sundry considerations which confirm us in the use and ex- ercise of that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, to inquire ourselves into our duty in these things, and to regu- late our duty in them by his word, notwithstanding what was done by our first reformers. For, 1. They did not think themselves obliged, they did not think meet to abide within the bounds and limits of that reformation of the church, which had been attempted before them, by men wise, learned, and holy, even in this nation. Such was that which was endeavoured by Wickliff and his followers, in giving testimony whereunto many suffered mar- D 2 36 THE PREFACE. • tyrdom, and prepared the way unto those that were to come after. They approved of what was then done or attempted to be done for the substance of it ; yet esteemed themselves at liberty to make a farther progress in the same work, which they did accordingly. Surely such persons never designed their own judgment and practice to give bounda- ries unto all reformation for evermore ; or pretended that they had made so perfect a discovery of the mind of Christ in all things belonging unto the rule and worship of the church, as that it should not only be vain, but sinful to make any farther inquiries about it. Some thought they were come unto the utmost limits of navigation, and dis- covery of the parts of the world, before the West Indies were found out. And some men when in any kind they know as much as they can, are apt to think there is no more to be known. It was not so with our reformers. 2. They did not at once make what they had done them- selves to be a fixed rule in these things. For themselves made many alterations in the service-book which they first composed j and if they judged not their first endeavour to be satisfactory to themselves, they had no reason to expect their second should be a standing rule unto all future ages. Nor did they so, but frequently acknowledged the imper- fection of what they had done. 3. The first reformers, both bishops and others, both those who underwent martyrdom at home, and those who lived in exile abroad, differed among themselves in their judgments and apprehensions about those things which are now under contest ; whereas they perfectly agreed in all doctrines of faith and gospel obedience. The public records of these differences, do so remain as that they cannot mo- destly be denied, nor handsomely covered. And this must needs weaken the influence of their authority in the settle- ment of the church, which was an act only of the prevalent party among them. 4. They differed in these things from all other reformed churches, with whom they did absolutely agree in doctrine, and had the strictest communion in faith and love. For it is known that their doctrine which they owned and esta- blished, was the same with that of the churches abroad called particularly reformed, in distinction from the Lu- THE PREFACE. 37 therans. But as unto the state, rule, and order of the church, they differed from them all. I press not this con- sideration unto the disadvantage of what they attained unto and established in the way of reformation, or in a way of preferring other churches above them ; but only to evidence that we have reason enough not to esteem ourselves abso- lutely obliged unto what they did and determined, as unto all endeavours after any farther reformation. 5. In their reformation they avowedly proposed a rule and measure unto themselves, which was both uncertain, and in many things apparently various from the original rule of these things given by Christ and his apostles, with the practice of the first churches. And this was the state and example of the church under the first Christian em- perors ; as our author confesseth. This rule is uncertain; for no man living is able to give a just and full account of what was the state and rule of all the churches in the world in the reign of any one emperor, much less during the suc- cession of many of them, continual alterations in the state or order of the church following one upon another. And that in those days there was a prevalent deviation from the original rule of church-order, hath been before declared. We dare not therefore make them and what they did to be our rule absolutely, who missed it so much in the choice of their own. 6. We may add hereunto the consideration of the horrid darkness which they newly were delivered from, the close adherence of some traditional prejudices unto the best of men in such a condition, the difficulties and oppositions they met withal as imto their whole work ; their prudence, as they judged it, in an endeavour to accommodate all things unto the inclinations and desires of the body of the people (extremely immersed in their old traditions), which might not be destructive unto their salvation, in heresy or idolatry ; all which could not but leave some marks of imperfection on their whole work of reformation. Upon these and the like considerations it is, that we are enforced to assert the use of our own liberty, light, and un- derstanding, in the inquiring after and compliance with the true original state and order of evangelical churches, with our duty in reference thereunto, and not to be absolutely 38 THE PREFACE. confined unto what was judged meet and practised in these things by the first reformers. And the truth is, if present interest and advantage did not prevail with men to fix the bounds of all church reformation in what was by them at- tained and established, they would think it themselves a papal bondage to be bound up absolutely unto their appre- hensions, from a confinement whereunto in sundry other things, they declare themselves to be at an absolute liberty. Wherefore neither we nor our cause are at all concerned in the rhetorical discourse of Dr. Stillingfleet, concerning the first reformers and their reformation ; neither do we at all delight in reflecting on any of the defects of it, desiring only the liberty avowed on Protestant principles, in the discharge of our own duty. Nor, secondly, are we any more concerned in the long story that ensues about the rise and progress of separation from the church of England, with the mistakes of some in principles, and miscarriages in practice, who judged it their duty to be separate. For as in our refraining from total communion v/ith the parochial assembles of the church of England, we proceed not on the same principles, so we hope that we are free from the same miscarriages with them, or any of an alike nature. But it is also certain, that after the great confusion that was brought on the whole state and order of the church under the Roman apostacy, many of those who attempted a reformation, fell into different opi- nions and practices in sundry things, which the Papists have made many a long story about. We undertake the defence only of our own principles and practices according unto them. Nor do we esteem ourselves obliged to justify or reflect on others. And it were no difficult task, to compose a story of the proceedings of some in the church of England with reference unto these differences, that would have as ill an aspect as that which is here reported. Should an account be given of their unaccountable rigour and severity, in that through so many years, yea ages, they would never think of the least abatement of their impositions, in any one instance, though acknowledged by themselves indifferent, and esteemed by others unlawful ; although they saw what woful detriment arose to the churches thereby ; yea, how instead thereof THE PREFACE. 39 they did, to the last of their power, make a progress in the same course, by attempting new canons to inflame the dif- ference, and increased in severities towards all dissenters; should an account be given of the silencings, deprivings, imprisonings, by the high commission court, and in most of the diocesses of the kingdom, of so great numbers of godly, learned, faithful, painful ministers, to the unspeakable dis- advantage of the church and nation, with the ruin of the most of them and their families; the representation of their names, qualifications, evident usefulness in the ministry, with the causes of their sufferings, wherein the observance of some ceremonies was openly preferred before the edifica- tion of the church, and a great means of the conversion of souls ; would give as ill a demonstration of Christian wis- dom, love, moderation, condescension, zeal for the propa- gation of the gospel, as any thing doth on the other hand, in the history before us. It would not be omitted on such an occasion to declare what multitudes of pious peaceable Pro- testants were driven by their severities to leave their native country, to seek a refuge for their lives and liberties, with freedom for the worship of God in a wilderness in the ends of the earth ; and if it be said that what some did herein, they did in the discharge of the duties of their office ; I must say, I shall hardly acknowledge that office to be of the in- stitution of Christ, whereunto it belongs in a way of duty, to ruin and destroy so many of his disciples, for no other cause but a desire and endeavour to serve and worship him, ac- cording unto what they apprehend to be his mind revealed in the gospel. Should there be added hereunto, an account of the administration of ecclesiastical discipline in the courts of chancellors, commissaries, officials, and the like, as unto the authority and causes, with the way and manner of their proceedings, in the exercise of their jurisdiction, with the woful scandals that have been given thereby, with an ad- dition of sundry other things which I will not so much as mention ; I suppose it would as much conduce unto peace and reconciliation among Protestants, as the story here given us by our author. But setting aside the aggravations of things gathered out of controversial writings (wherein few men do observe 40 THE PREFACE. the due rules of moderation, but indulge unto themselves the liberty of severe censures and sharp reflections on thera they do oppose), the sum and truth of the story concern- ing these things may be reduced into a narrow compass. For, 1. It is certain that from the first dawning of the refor- mation in this nation, there were different apprehensions among them that jointly forsook the papacy as unto its doc- trine and worship, about the state, rule, order, and discipline of the church, with sundry things belonging unto its wor- ship also; I suppose this will not be denied. 2. There doth not remain any record, of a due attempt and endeavour for the composing these differences before one certain way was established by those in power. And whereas the state and condition wherein they were at that time, from the confusions about religion that were then abroad, and the pertinaciousness of the generality of the people in an ad- herence unto their old ways and observances in religion, with a great scarcity in able ministers, the greatest part of the bishops and clergy disliking the whole reformation, they found themselves as they judged necessitated to make as little alteration in the present state of things as was possible, so as to keep up an appearance of the same things in the church, which had been in former use. On these grounds the state and rule of the church was continued in the same form and posture that it was before under the papacy, the authority of the pope only being excluded, and the power of disposal of ecclesiastical affairs usurped by him, declared to be in the king. So also in imitation of that book of worship and service which the people had been accustomed unto, another was established, with the ceremonies most obvious unto popular observation. 3. This order was unsatisfactory unto great numbers of ministers and others, who yet considering what the necessity of the times did call for, did outwardly acquiesce in it in several degrees, in hopes of a farther reformation in a more convenient season. Nor did they cease to plead and press for it by all quiet and peaceable means; abstaining in the mean time, from the use of the ceremonies, and full com- pliance with episcopal jurisdiction. THE PREFACE. 41 4. Hereon those who were for the establishment, hav- ing secured their interests therein, and obtained power, began after awhile to oppress, excommunicate, silence, deprive, and imprison those who dissented from them, and could not come up unto a full practical compliance with their institutions and rules. Yet the generality of those so silenced and deprived, abode in privacy under their suffer- ings, hoping for a reformation at one time or another, with- out betaking themselves unto any other course for the edification of themselves or their people. 5. After sundry years, some men, partly silenced and deprived, as unto their ministry, and partly pursued with other censures and penalties, began to give place unto severe thoucihts of the church of England and its communion, and withdrawing themselves into foreign parts openly avowed a separation from it. And if the extremities which many had been put unto for their mere dissent and nonconformity unto the established rule, which with a good conscience they could not comply with, were represented, it might, if not excuse, yet alleviate the evil of that severity in separation which they fell into. 6. But hereon a double inconvenience, yea, evil did ensue, whence all the advantages made use of in this story, to load the present cause of the nonconformists, did arise. For, (1.) Many of those who refused to conform unto the church in all its constitutions, yet thought it their duty to wait quietly for a national reformation, thinking no other possible, began to oppose and write against them who utterly separated from the church, condemning its assem- blies as unlawful. And herein, as the manner of men is on such occasions, they fell into sharp invectives against them, with severe censures and sentences concerning them and their practice. And, (2.) Those who did so separate, being not agreed among themselves, as unto all principles of church-order, nor as unto the measures of their separation from the church of England, there fell out differences and disorders among them, accompanied with personal imprudences and miscar- riages, in not a few. Neither was it scarcely ever otherwise among them who first attempted any reformation, unless like the apostles they were infallibly guided. These mutual 42 THE PREFACE. contests which they had among themselves, and with the nonconformists who abode in their private stations in Eng- land, with their miscarriages also, were published unto the world in their own writings and those of their enemies. * Hinc omnis pendet Lucilius.' These were the things that gave advantage unto, and are the substance of, the history of our author concerning separation ; wherein all I can find unto our present instruction is, that lliacos intra rauros peccatur et extra ; There are and ever were sins, faults, follies, and miscarriages among all sorts of men ; which might be farther evidenced by recounting on the other hand what were the ways, acts, and deeds at the same time of those by whom the others were cast out and rejected. And whereas it was the design of the reverend author to load the cause and persons of the present nonconformists with prejudice and contempt, it is well fallen out, in the merciful d,isposal of things towards and amongst us, by the providence and grace of God, that he is forced to derive the principal matter of his charge from what was done by a few private persons, three or fourscore years ago and more, in whose principles and practices we are not concerned. And as for the difference that fell out more lately among the divines in the assembly at Westmin- ster, about the ways, means, and measures of reformation and mutual forbearance, which he gives us a large account of in a long transcription out of their writings, I must have more health, and strength, and leisure than now I have (which I look not for in this world), before I esteem myself concerned to engage in that contest, or to apologize for the one side or other. The things in agitation between them had no relation unto our present dissent from the church of England, being here insisted on merely to fill up the story, with reference unto the general end designed. Neither to my knowledge did I ever read a book, wherein there was a greater appearance of diligence in the collection of things, words, sayings, expressions, discourses unto other ends, which might only cast odium on the cause opposed, or give advantage for arguings unto a seeming success, very little or no way at all belonging unto the cause in hand, than there is in this of our reverend author, though much in the same way and kind hath been before attempted. THE PREFACE. 43 But separation it is and schism which we are all charged withal, and the evil thereof is aggravated in the words of the author himself, and in large transcriptions out of the writ- ings of others. Schism indeed we iacknowledge to be an evil, a great evil ; but are sorry that with some, a pretended unproved schism is become almost all that is evil in the churches or their members ; so that let men be what they will, drenched, yea, overwhelmed in ignorance, vice, and sin, so they do not separate, (which to be sure, in that state they will not do, for why should he who hath plague sores upon him depart from the society of them that are infected ?) they seem to be esteemed, as unto all the concerns of the church, very unblamable. The truth is, considering the present state and condition of the inhabitants of this nation, who are generally members of the church of England, how ' the land is filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel,' God giving us every day renewed tokens and indications of his displeasure, no com- pliance with his calls, no public reformation being yet at- tempted ; it seems a more necessary duty, and of more im- portance unto them upon whom the care of such things is incumbent, to endeavour in themselves, and to engage a faithful ministry throughout the nation, both to give a due example in their conversations, and to preach the word with all diligence, for the turning of the people from the evil of their ways, than to spend their time and strength in the management of such charges against those who would wil- lingly comply with them, as unto all the great ends of reli- gion amongst men. But this must be farther spoken unto. I say, therefore, 1. In general, that whereas the whole design of this book is to charge all sorts of nonconformists with schism, and to de- nounce them schismatics; yet the author of it doth not once endeavour to state the true notion and nature of schism, wherein the consciences of men may be concerned. He satisfies himself in the invectives of some of the ancients against schism, applicable unto those which were in their days, wherein we are not concerned. Only he seems to proceed on the general notion of it, that it is a causeless separation from a true church, which departs from that of the Romanists, who will allow no separation from the church 44 THE PREFACE. but what is causeless. To make application hereof unto us, it is supposed, (1.) That the church of England is a true church in its national constitution, and so are all the parochial churches in it; which can be no wayjustifiedbut by a large extensive interpretation of the word true. For there is but one sort of churches instituted by Christ and his apostles; but national and parochial churches differ in their whole kind, and there- fore cannot both of them be of a divine original. (2.) That we are members of this church by our own consent. How we should come to be so otherways, I know not; if we are so by being born and baptized in England, then those who are born beyond sea and baptized there, are made members of this church by an act of parliament for their naturalization, and no otherwise. (3.) That we separate from this church, in things where- in we are obliged by the authority of Christ to hold com- munion with it; which neither is nor will ever be proved, nor is it endeavoured so to be by any instances in this treatise. (4.) That to withhold communion from parochial assem- blies in the worship of God, as unto things confessedly not of divine institution, is schism, that kind of schism which is condemned by the ancient writers of the church. Upon these and the like suppositions, it is no uneasy thing to make vehement declamations against us, and severe reflec- tions on us; all is schism and schismatics, and all of the same kind, with what was written against by Cyprian and Austin, and others a great many. But the true state of the controversy between him and us, is this and no other ; namely, Whether a dissent in, and for- bearance from, the communion of churches, in their sfate and kind not of divine institution, or so far as they are not of divine institution, and from things in other churches that have no such divine institution, nor any scriptural authority to oblige us unto their observance, be to be esteemed schism in them who maintain and professedly avow communion in faith and love with all the true churches of Christ in the world. This is the whole of what we are concerned in, which where it is spoken unto, it shall be considered. But because there were in the primitive churches, certain persons who on THE PREFACE. 45 arbitrary principles of their own, consisting for the most part in gross and palpable errors, which they would have imposed on all others, did separate from the catholic church, that is, all other Christians in the world, and all the churches of Christ, condemning them as no churches, allowing not the administration of sacraments unto them, nor salvation unto their members, whom the ancient church condemned with great severity, and thatjustly as guilty of schism, their judg- ment, their words and expressions are applied unto us, who are no way concerned in what they speak of or unto. We are not therefore in the least terrified with what is alleged out of the ancients about schism, no more than he is, when the same instances, the same authorities, the same quota- tions, are made use of by the Papists against the church of England, as they are continually. For, as was said, we know that we are no way concerned in them. And suppose that all that the doctor allegeth against us be true, and that we are in the wrong in all that is charged on us ; yet I dare refer it to the doctor himself to determine, whether it be of the same nature with what was charged on them who made schisms in the church of old. I suppose I guess well enough what he will say, to secure his charge, and it shall be considered where it is spoken. But, as was said, the great and only design of the author of this book, is to prove all nonconformists to be schisma- tics, or guilty of the sin of schism. How he hath succeeded in this attempt, shall be afterward considered. And some- thing I have spoken in the ensuing discourse, concerning the nature of schism, which will manifest how little we are con- cerned in this charge. But yet it may not be amiss in this place, to mind both him and others, of some of those prin- ciples whereon we ground our justification in this matter, that it may be known what they must farther overthrow, and what they must establish who shall persist in the manage- ment of this charge ; that is indeed through want of love, in a design to heighten and perpetuate our divisions. And, The first of these principles is. That there is a rule pre- scribed by our Lord Jesus Christ, unto all churches and be- lievers, in a due attendance whereunto, all the unity and peace, which he requireth amongst his disciples, do consist. We acknowledge this to be our fundamental principle. 46 THE PREFACE. Nor can the rhetoric or arguments of any man, affect our consciences with a sense of the guilt of schism, until one of these things be proved ; namely, either. First, That the Lord Christ hath given no such rule, as in the observance whereof, peace and unity maybe preserved in his church ; or. Secondly, That' we refuse a compliance with that rule, in some one instance or other, of what therein he hath him- self appointed. Unless one or theotherbe proved, and that strictly and directly, not pretended so to be, by perpetual diversions from the things in question, no vehement asser- tions of any of us to be schismatics, nor aggravations of the guilt of schism, will signify any thing in this cause. But that our principle herein is according unto truth, we are fully persuaded. There is a rule of Christ's given, which whosoever walk according unto, ' peace shall be on them and mercy, as on the whole Israel of God ;' Gal. vi. 16. And we desire no more, no more is needful unto the peace and unity of the church; and this rule, whatever it be, is of his giving and appointment. No rule of men's invention or imposition, can by its observance secure us of an interest in that peace and mercy, which is peculiar unto the Israel of God. God forbid we should entertain anysuch imagination. We know well enough men maybe thorough conformists to such rules, unto whom, as unto their present state and condi- tion, neither peace nor mercy do belong ; for there is no peace to the wicked. He who hath directed and commanded the end of church unity and peace, hath also appointed the means and measures of them. Nothing is more disagreeable unto, nothing more inconsistent with, the wisdom, care, and love of Christ unto his church, than an imagination, that whereas he strictly enjoins peace and unity in his church, he hath not himself appointed the rules, bounds, and mea- sures of them, but left it unto the will and discretion of men. As if his command unto his disciples had been. Keep peace and unity in the church, by doing and observing whatever some men, under a pretence of being the guides of the church, shall make necessary unto that end ; whereas it is plainly otherwise, namely, That we should so keep the peace and unity of the church, by doing and observing all whatever that he commands us. And besides we strictly require, that THE PREFACE. 47 some one instance be given us, of a defect in the rule given by Christ himself, which must be supplied by human addi- tions, to render it complete for the end of church-peace and unity. In vain have we desired, in vain may we for ever ex- pect, any instance of that kind . This principle we shall notbe easily dispossessed of; and whilst we are under the protection of it, we have a safe retreat and shelter from the most vehement accusations of schism for a non-compliance with a rule, none of his, differ- ent from his, and in some things contrary unto his, for the preservation of church-peace and unity. All the dispute is, whether we keep unto this of Christ or no ; wherein we are ready at any time to put ourselves upon the trial, being will- ing to teach or learn, as God shall help us. Secondly, we say, That this rule in general is the rule of faith, love, and obedience, contained and revealed in the Scripture, and in particular the commands that the Lord Christ hath given for the order and worship that he requires in his churches. It may seem strange to some, that we should suppose the due observance of the rule of faith, love, and obedience, that is, of faith real and unfeigned, love fervent and without dissimulation, and of universal, gra- cious, evangelical obedience, to be necessary unto the pre- servation of church-peace and unity. But we do affirm with some confidence, that the only real foundation of them doth lie herein, nor do we value that ecclesiastical peace which may be without it, or is neglective of it. Let all the Chris- tian world, or those therein who concern themselves in us, know, that this is our principle and our judgment. That no church-peace or unity is valued by or accepted with Jesus Christ, that is not founded in, that doth not arise from, and is the effect of, a diligent attendance unto, and observance of, the entire gospel rule of faith and obedience. In the neglect hereof, peace is but carnal security, and unity is no- thing but a conspiracy against the rule of Christ : add here- unto in particular, the due observation of what the Lord Christ hath appointed to be done and observed in his churches, as unto their order, rule, and worship ; and thev who walk according unto this rule need not fear the charge of schism from the fiercest of their adversaries. Wherefore we say. 48 THE PREFACE. Thirdly, Those who recede from this rule, in any material branch of it, are guilty of the breach of church-unity, ac- cording to the measure of their exorbitancy. As suppose that any preach, teach, or profess doctrines that are con- trary to the form of wholesome words, especially with refer- ence unto the person, offices, and grace of Christ, which are the subject of doctrines pm'ely evangelical, they break the peace of the church, and we are bound to separate or withdraw communion from them, which is a means of pre- serving the true peace and unity of the church. * Speciosum quidem est nomen pacis. et pulchra opinio unitatis, sed quis ambigat eam solam, unicam, ecclesiae pacem esse, quae Christi est,' saith Hilary. Suppose that men retain a form of godliness in the profession of the truth, but deny the power of it, acting their habitual lusts and corruptions in a vicious conversation: they overthrow the foundation of the church's unity, and we are obliged from such to turn away. The like may be said of those who live in a constant neglect of any of the commands of Christ, with respect unto the order, rule, and worship of the church, with a contempt of the means appointed by him for their edification. All these, according unto the measures of their deviations from the rule of Christ, do disturb the foundation of all church- peace and unity. And therefore we say. Fourthly, That conscience is immediately and directly concerned in no other church-unity as such, but what is an effect of the rule of Christ given unto that end. We know what is spoken concerning obedience unto the guides and rulers of the church, which is a part of the rule of Christ. But we know withal, that this obedience is required of us, only as they teach us to observe and do all that he hath commanded ; for other commission from him they have none. When this rule is forsaken, and another substituted in the room of it, as it quickly diverts the minds of men from a conscientious attendance unto that rule of Christ as the only means of church-unity, so that other doth either proceed from men's secular interests, or may easily be accommodated thereunto. And whereas the lines of it must be drawn in the fields of pretended indiflferences, and real arbitrariness, it will be the cause of endless contentions; whilst whatever some think themselves to have power to THK prefacf:. 49 appoint, others will judge themselves to have liberty to refuse. Fifthly, It is unity of Christ's appointment that schism respects as a sin against it, and not uniformity in things of men's appointment. And, Lastly, Those who charge schism on others for a dissent from themselves, or the refraining of total communion with them ; must, 1 . Discharge themselves of the charge of it, in a consistence with their charge on them. For we find as yet no arrows shot against us, but such as are gathered up in the fields, shot at them that use them out of the Roman qiiiver. Neither will it avail them to say, that they have other manner of reason for their separation from the church of Rome, than any we have for our withdrawing communion from them. For the question is not what reasons they have for what they do ; but what right and power they have to do it, 'namely, to separate from the church whereof they were, constituting a new church-state of their own, without the consent of that church, and against the order and authority of the same. 2. Require no communion but by virtue of the rule before declared. In no other are we concerned, with respect unto the peace andunity of the church. 3. Give a farther confirvnation, than what we have yet seen, unto the principles or presumptions they proceed upon in the management of the charge of schism; as that, (1.) Diocesan bishops, with their metropolitans, are of divine in- stitution. (2.) That the power of rule in and over all churches is committed unto them alone. (3.) That the church hath power to ordain religious rites and ceremonies, nowhere prescribed in the Scripture, and impose the observation of them on all members of the church. (4.) That this church they are. (5.) That no man's voluntary consent is required to constitute him a member of any church, but that every one is surprised into that state whether he will or no. (6.) That there is nothing of force in the arguments pleaded for non-compliance with arbitrary unnecessary impositions. (7.) That the church standeth in no need of reformation, neither in doctrine, discipline, nor conversation ; with sun- dry other things of an alike nature, that they need unto their justification. VOL. XX. E 50 THE PREFACE. But yet when all is done, it will appear, that mutual for- bearance, first removing animosities, then administering oc- casion of inoffensive converse, unto the revival of decayed affections, leading unto sedate conferences and considera- tions of a more entire conjunction in the things whereunto we have attained, will more conduce unto universal peace and gospel unity, than the most fierce contentions about things in difference, or the most vehement charges of schism against dissenters. But I must return to the argument, and shall add some- thing giving light into the nature of schism, from an instance in the primitive churches. That which is first in any kind, gives the measure of what follows iu the same kind, and light into the nature of them. Whereas, therefore, the schism that was among the churches about the observation of Easter, was the first that fell out unto the disturbance of their communion, I shall give a brief account of it, as far as the question in hand is con- cerned in it. It is evident that the apostles did with care and diligence teach the doctrine of Christian liberty, warning the disciples to stand fast in it, and not submit their necks unto any yoke of bondage, in the things of the worship of God; especially the apostle Paul had frequent occasions to treat of this subject. And what they taught in doctrine, they established and confirmed in their practice. For they enjoined nothing to be observed in the church but what was necessary, and what they had the command of Christ for; leaving the ob- servation of things indifferent unto their original indiffer- ence. But whereas they had decreed, by the direction of the Holy Ghost, some necessary condescensions in the Gentile believers towards the Jews, in case of offence or scandal ; they did themselves make use of their liberty to comply with the same Jews, in some of their observances, not yet unlaw- ful. Hereon there ensued in several churches different ob- servations of some rites and customs, which they appre- hended were countenanced by the practice of the apostles, at least as it had been reported unto them. For immedi- ately after the decease of the apostles, very many mistakes and untruths were reported concerning what they said, did, and practised, which some diligently collected from old men (it may be almost delirant), asEusebius gives an instance in THE PREFACE. 51 Papias, Jib. 3. cap. 36. And even the great Irenaeus him- self was imposed upon, in a matter directly contrary to the Scripture, under a pretence of apostolical tradition. Among those reports was that of the observation of Easter. And for avv^hile the churches continued in these different observ- ances, without the least disturbance of their communion, each one following that which it thought the most probable tradi- tion, for rule of Scripture they pretended not unto. But after awhile they began to fall into a contest about these things, which began at Laodicea, which church was as likely to strive about such things as any other. For Eusebius tells us, that Melito, the bishop of Sardis, wrote two books about Easter, beginning the first with an account that he wrote them, when Servilius Paulus was proconsul, there, being then a great stir about it, at Laodicea. Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 25. But as it falls out on such occasions, much talk and disput- ing ensuing thereon, the differences were increased, until one side or party at variance, would make their opinion and practice the rule and terms of communion unto all other churches. But this was quickly condemned by those who were wise and sober. For as Zozoman affirms, they ac- counted it a frivolous or foolish thing to differ about a cus- tom, whereas they agreed in all the principal heads of reli- gion. And thereon he gives a large account of different rites and observances in many churches, without any breach of communion among them ; adding, that besides those enu- merated by him, there were many others in cities and vil- lages which they did in a different manner adhere unto. Hist. lib. 7. cap. 19. At length this matter fell into the handling of Victor, bishop of Rome. And his judgment was, that the observa- tion of Easter on the Lord's day, and not on the fourteenth day of the first month precisely, according to the com- putation of the Jews, in the observation of the passover, was to be imposed on all the churches of Christ every- where. It had all along, until his time, been judged a thing indifferent, wherein the churches and all believers were left unto the use of their own liberty. He had no pretence of any divine institution making it necessary, the writers of those days constantly affiraiing, that the apostles made no canons, rules, or laws about such things. He had persons e2 52 THE PREFACt. of as great worth as any in the world, as Melito, Polycrates, Poly carpus, that opposed him, not only as unto the imposi- tion of his practice on others, but as unto his error as they judged in the matter of fact and right. Yet all this could not hinder but that he would needs have the reputation of the father of schisms among the churches of Christ by his impositions, and cut off .all the Asian churches from com- munion, declaring them and their members excommunicate. Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 23. The noise hereof coming abroad unto other churches, great offence was taken at it by many of them, and Victor was roundly dealt withal by sundry of them who agreed with hira in practice, but abhorred his imposition of it, and mak- ing it a condition of church communion. Among those who so opposed and rebuked him, Irenseus was the most eminent. And I shall observe some few thinos out of the fragment of his epistle, as it is recorded by Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 23. And, (1.) He tells us, that ' he wrote unto Victor in the name of those brethren in France whom he did preside amongst.' The custom of considering things of this nature with all the brethren of the church, and writing their deter- mination, in their name, was not yet grown out of use, though the practice of it now would be esteemed novel and schismatical. (2.) He tells Victor, that ' there were great varieties in this thing, as also in the times and seasons of fasting, which did not,' saith he, 'begin or arise in our days, but long before was introduced by such, who being in places of rule, rejected and changed the common and simple customs which the church had before.' The doctor, therefore, need not think it so strange, that an alteration in church-order and rule should fall out in after ages, when long before Irenseus's time such changes were begun. (3.) He gives hereon that excellent rule, y) ^la^Mvia rrig vr)(TT£iac T>?v bfX[x6voiav Trig Trtorewc