of their owne; for Ministers of another Church have no power but in their owne Church. To the second and third; The second and third Questions are coincident, and one Answer may serve for both: The Children of Israel did impose hands upon the Levites, Num. 8. 10. and if the people have power to elect their owne officers, they have power also to ordaine them; for Ordination is but an Installment of a man into that [p. 56.] office, whereto election giveth him right, neverthelesse such a Church as hath a Presbyterie, ought to ordaine their Officers by a Presbyterie, according to 1 Tim. 4. 14. This Answer was brought me by Master Oliver, one of the Elders, and Master Pierce, a Brother of Boston. When I was to come away, one of the chiefest in the Country wished me to deliver him a note of what things I misliked in the Country, which I did, thus : I doubt, 1. W Hether so much time should be spent in the publique Ordinances, on the Sabbath day, because that thereby some necessary duties of the Sabbath must needs be hindred, as visitation of the sick, and poore, and family. 2. Whether matters of offence should be publiquely handled, either before the whole Church, or strangers. 3. Whether so much time should be spent in particular catechizing those that are admitted to the communion of the Church, either men or women; or that they should make long speeches; or when they come publiquely to be admitted, any should speak contradictorily, or in recommendation of any, unlesse before the Elders, upon just occasion. 4. Whether the censures of the Church should be ordered, in publique, before all the Church, or strangers, other then the denunciation of [p. 57.] the censures, and pronunciation of the solutions. 5. Whether any of our Nation that is not extremely ignorant or scandalous, should bee kept from the Communion, or his children from Baptisme. 6. That many thousands in this Countrey have forgotten the very principles of Religion, which they were daily taught in England, by set forms and Scriptures read, as the Psalmes, first and second Lesson, the ten Commandments, the Creeds, and publique catechizings. And although conceived Prayer be good and holy, and so publike explications and applications of the Word, and also necessary both in and out of season: yet for the most part it may be feared they dull, amaze, confound, discourage the weake and ignorant, (which are the most of men) when they are in ordinary performed too tediously, or with the neglect of the Word read, and other premeditated formes inculcated, and may tend to more ignorance and inconvenience, than many good men are aware of. 17. I doubt there hath been, and is much neglect of endeavours, to teach, civilize, and convert the Indian Nation, that are about the Plantations. 8. Whether by the received principles, it bee possible to teach, civilize, or convert them, or when they are converted, to maintain Gods worship among them. 9. That electorie courses will not long be safe here, either in Church or Common-wealth. [p. 58.] 10. That the civill government is not so equally administred, nor can be, divers orders or bylaws considered. 11. That unlesse these things be wisely and in time prevented, many of your usefullest men will remove and scatter from you. At Boston July 5. 1641. Certain Quæres about Church government, planting Churches, and some other Experiments. 1. WHether the people should cal the Minister, or the Minister gather the people? 2. When a Church is gathered or planted; should they not have a care in bpropagating other Churches, in other places next them. a Mat. 10. 1. Mar. 3. 13. Act. 1. 4. & 2. 47. & 8. 5. 6. & C 3. Whether should not the first Church visit the later Churches planted by them, 9, 31. & 11. 22. to see they keepe the faith and order, as 21. to 28. c Col. 2. 5. Act. 11. 27. & 15. 36. & 16. 4. & long as shee remains herselfe in purity of Doctrine and worship? 4. How shall a Church propagate, and visit other Churches? shall they do it by their members, ordinary Christians, or by their Ministers, dor Pastors? shall they intend such propagation, or stay, till by their numbers increasing, they are necessitated to swarme, or are persecuted abroad? d Acts 8. 5. 14. & 11. 22. 27. & 13. 2, 3. e Mat. 28. 19. Acts 13. 1, 2, 3. & 8. 1. f 5. If by their Pastors, must not there bee more Ministers then one in the first Church? & 2. 47. & 13. 1. how else can any be spared to goe abroad about such works upon occasion? f Acts 1. 2, 3, 4. 6. When they have planted other Churches, [p. 59.] must not the first Church take care for the providing of Elders or Ministers for these new planted Churches, and ordain them, g Act. 1. 25, 26. and sometimes goe ior send some to teach them, and uphold the worship of God among them? 1 h Act. 6. 6.. & 14. 23. i Act. 8. 14. & 11. 22. k Rom. 10 15. 1 Act. 6. 6. & 13. 7. How can any preach, unlesse he besent? and how can he be sent, unlesse by imposition of hands of the Presbytery of the first Church? 3. 1 Tim. 4. 14. 8. If so, hath not the first Church m and the Ministers thereof, Apostlolical power in these things? 0 Churches and Ministers this n Rom. 16. 1. power? are they able? have they learn- m Eph. 4. 11. ed men enough, to water where they Act. 1. 25. & 8. have planted? If some should not be 14. & 11. 22. 27. of the Quorum, as it were, in ordinations, and the like, what order, peace, or unity can be expected? 01 Cor. 3. 6. p 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 14. compared. 10. Againe, if all Churches and Ministers have this power, equally, to exercise the work Apostolicall; must they not all then goe, or send abroad, to convert the Indians, and plant Churches and how can all be spared abroad? Are all Apostles? all Euan-11 Cor. 12. gelists? where were the body, if so? 19, 29. 11. Will they not interfiere one upon another, and trespasse upon one anothers' line, rule, or portion, which blessed S. Paul con-r2 Cor. 10. 12. demned in those that entred into his labours? to the end. 12. When any other Church, besides the first, hath power and ability to propagate and bring forth other Churches, may she not t Act. 1. 4. & 2. doe well so to doe? must she not? in 47. s Act. 13. 1. 2, 3. her fitting line, observing peace, and holding communion with [p. 60.] the first, as long as they remain in purity both of them? and if a second, why not a third, and a fourth, and so forth to a competent number? 13. Whether the first and other Churches also having power and ability thus to propagate the Gospell and plant Churches, may not be fitly called, prime, chief, or principall seats of the Church, or chiefe Churches ? v As Hierusalem, Antioch, 14. Whether those Churches so gath- Ephesus, Acts ered, in one Kingdome, Citie, or Princi- 11. 26. pality, holding communion together, may not be fitly, in regard of their unity in Doctrine and worship, called the Church of such a Nation, or Province, " City, or Countrey? u Acts 11. 22. 15. Whether is it probable, that the first Church Christian, that wee reade of to be, at * Hierusalem, was onely one congregation, or but as many as could meete in one place? had they not among them x Acts 1. 4, 15. 26. & 2. 41. twelve Apostles, besides Elders, three thousand, at once added, what ever number there was besides? and had they such a large Temple or meeting-houses at their command in those dayes? 16. Whether the word Church bee not diversly taken in holy Scripture, and sometimes for a civill or uncivill assembly or congression? Acts y Act. 19. 40. 19. 40. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἀπέλυσε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, and when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly or Church? 17. Whether anciently in England, some small assemblyes were not called Churches, Fitzherb. N. Β. as every [p. 61.] presentative Rectory or Parsonage is called Ecclesia, when others that were greater were not so called, as no Vicaridge, Donative or Chappel is called Ecclesia in our Law? 18. Whether the Rector, or Parson that is a Presbyter in a Church, should, being alone, rule absolutely by himselfe, without the concurrence, advise, or superiour power of the Evangelisticall z1 Cor. 5. 3. 4. Pastor of the Church, who had care in the plantation or erection of the Parsons Church? 19. If not; should the Vicar, Donative, Minister or Chaplain? Z 20. But where they have used to rule more absolutely, (as in some peculiar jurisdictions in England) why may they not with the peace and unity of the Church, and by good advise, stil doe the same alway, with subordination to the Evangelisticall leaders, and fit Christian, and Nationall Synods? |