CHAP. I.

IT may be inquired into, not without just ground, Whether the Congregatio­nall Churches, of what denomination so­ever, have power from Christ, either jointly or severally, to send forth persons of their Number, or others, to go forth to preach the Gospell unto the World; And that either in a roving way, or fixedly in a Parish, and to make a trade or course of life so to do.

The warrantableness of a persons taking on this work, either by Commission aforesaid, or of his voluntary accord, out of some specious pretence and zeal for the glory of God, and good of others, may also be inquired into, as no less que­stionable then the former.

1. It is here premised, that this ensuing Discovery intend­eth [Page 2]no questioning of, or opposition to the prudentiall care and undertaking of the Rulers of the State or Nation, in pro­viding that the people be informed in the knowledge of God, and their duty to their neighbour; onely it were to be wished, they might have some other name then Ministers of Christ, and his Gospell.

2. This intentionally medleth not with the way and course of those called Presbyterians, in their making and sending forth Ministers to preach; inasmuch, as be their course right or wrong, it is more rationall upon this account, They hold­ing a large form of the Church, no less in the increase of it than Nationall, their sending being into the Church, ac­cording to their account, and not out of it to the World.

3. Neither doth this intend any opposition to that law­full right which belongeth to every Believer, to use his Ta­lent, and to communicate the Gift they have received to o­thers, 1 Pet 4.10. as good Dispensers of the grace of God; it being a duty that lieth on them in their place, according to such oppor­tunities Divine Providence presents unto them; no not if a person in the place God hath cast him to live in, should be found frequent in so doing, at set times, by set speeches, com­municating his light and knowledge to others, Luk 22.32. All which are here mentioned, to restrict the case, and make it more narrow and clear, that if any please to offer any thing to the contrary, they may do it to the purpose, keeping close to the question.

Which is the power particular Congregations have from Christ, either jointly or severally, to send forth of their Num­ber, to preach to the World to convert them, as they pre­tend, and to make a trade, or course of life of it, which is the first thing.

Secondly, That a particular person may warrantably, ei­ther as so sent, or voluntarily of himself, take on such a way and course.

1. For that there seemeth to be no footing in the Word of God for either, the Scriptures duely weighed, our Lord Christ having not spoken at all concerning this, Ier. 7.22. which Ne­gative Argument the Apostle counts good, Heb. 1.14. Ʋnto [Page 3]which of the Angels said he at any time? Paul and Barnabas when they visited the Church, Acts 14.23. and ordained El­ders in every Church; did they say any thing of this? did they take any order, and give any direction concerning the same? They took care for the Churches, that they were provided for with Elders: but did they cause them to take of their able Brethren, and to send them out to the parts near Asia, sent to preach unto the World to convert them? much less did they take Elders from their Charge to do it: Did that great Apostle of the Gentiles, when he sent for the El­ders of the Church of Ephesus, Acts 20.17. and laid such strait charge on them, Acts 20.28. To take heed to the whole Flock the holy Ghost had made them Overseers of, say any thing concerning the Churches sending out? Sure it seemeth it never came into his mind, much less that those Elders should leave the charge and care of Christs beloved Spouse, and go labour and take care for they knew not who; and so set up the trade of making Sermons, or set Speeches, attended with Prayers, to persons that they account, according to their grounds, to have no relation to Christ, nor interest in him in their present condition.

Did the Apostle Peter in his beseeching the Elders to feed the Flock, &c. say any thing of this sending forth? 1 Pet. 5.1. did it ever enter into his thoughts, that Churches of Christ should suffer for the sake of those that have no interest in him?

It is said indeed, that If any man desire the office of an Elder, 1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 5, 7. he desireth a worthy work; And that the Elders are worthy double honour, specially such as labour in Word and Doctrine: but did he ever speak any thing concerning them that either are sent, or go of themselves out of the Church, to preach unto the World? alas, there is no such thing to be found.

2. It may be considered, how greatly this sending forth out of the Church persons of able parts, or encouraging such as go of themselves, obstructeth the growth of the Churches to that full compleatness in Officers and Administrations, which otherwise it might attain unto; for from hence, among other causes, it cometh to pass, that persons of able parts, and publique spirits, fit for Elders and Officers in the Churches [Page 4]of Christ, are wanting so, as to be chosen to, and to take on the said service and charge, and one single person is found carrying on the work, which was appointed by our Lord to be done by many; And though he thought it sufficient for many, in regard of the burthen and charge of it, in a spiritual consideration, being for the good of his beloved Spouse, yet in order to the advance and helping on this preaching way and course, one must suffice the Churches; and a Church may think themselves well, and count themselves happy, that can get one of Parts and Learning, or keep him when they have gotten him; to have two such to serve together as El­ders in one Church, is exceeding rare, and all this in order to the preaching to the World, that they may be provided for, and their good means enjoyed, which the Churches of Saints have not to give forth, and so may sit alone: what great en­couragement is given to this? what little stress on the other? none at all, to be a Fellow-elder in the Church, as if it were not necessary, that having but one, the Church might be tied wholly to him, so as he might be as a Monarch, and tie all them.

The worldly advantages and encouragements prevailing with very many to run out of the Church, and quit their at­tendance on God there, to set up this trade and course; yea, which is marvellous, Elders and Teachers of the Churches, that pretended the holy Ghost made them Overseers in his Churches, leave their charge of feeding and caring for his Churches, and betake themselves to this course; it were to be wished we had not too many sad examples of this: Is it not a great riddle, that that which they count the World and People unconverted (so is their Tenet) should be preferred before the beloved Spouse of the Lord Christ, Eph. 5.25, 26. Eph. 4.8. for whom he gave himself, and gifts also, at his ascension, for their edifying? which gifts the Saints in his Churches ought not to be robb'd of upon any such specious pretence, as to convert the World, and help them that are without the Church, by a way and course never appointed by our Lord Christ, who without any mens sin, shall answer for the converting and drawing to him such as belong unto him. Joh. 6.3.7.

Let this be weighed and considered of, and see if it be not found a great hindrance of the Church of her enjoyments, a robbing of them of their rights, keeping them in a low con­dition, without the full enjoyments of the blessed provision of the Lord Christ, provided for their good.

3. This assuming of power to send forth to preach, and the taking on this course of a preaching way of life, is but old Popery in a new dress; at least it is so like it as four pence is to a groat; the Romish Church challenging, as from Christ, to have this power, alledging Scriptures, and the very same Scriptures, to prove their warrant for their thus sending forth, doing it upon the same specious pretences, as the glory of Christ, the propagating and spreading the Gospell, zeal and pity to poor ignorant and erring souls, the converting of them to Christ, and the faith of the Gospel, enlarging the Church, &c.

Upon the pretended grounds aforesaid, they send forth some of their number, to wit, the Monks and Friers, the Priests and Jesuits, to the Infidel and Heretick Nations, to convert and gain them to the faith of Christ, and his Church: all which notwithstanding hath no foundation in, nor warrant from the Word of God, but is meerly Popish and Anti­christian.

Is it not the very same in the Congregational Churches? First, upon the account of being Christs Churches, to challenge such a power as Christ never gave, and then to send forth thereupon, in such a way as is wholly without Divine War­rant; and to do it upon such like specious pretences, of the glory of Christ, and good of souls; as if they had taken their pattern thence, as sometime the pattern of the Altar at Da­mascus was taken, to be set up in Israel, in the Temple of the Lord God, 2 King 16.10.

4. The Testimony of those godly Reformers in Queen Elizabeth her time, Master Cartwright and others, called Non-conformists, may be called in and considered of, and it will be found how fully they give forth their witness a­gainst such Preachers, and their roving course, as strangers to Christ and his Gospel, where their name is not to be found.

But because some are marvelously taken about this send­ing forth to preach, laying wonderfull stress on it, as the onely choice thing for the propagating the Gospel, and ex­alting the honour of Christ, not minding that his glory doth chiefly shine forth in his Church: Eph. 3.21: It is proposed in this case to their consideration, Luk. 16.15. Esay 8.20. that many times things highly esteemed by men, are not so esteemed of the Lord: To the Law and to the Testimony. Let the Churches Authority to send forth be pro­duced, or the Warrant of particular persons to be so sent, or to go voluntarily, of their own accord, be shewn, that so they may be able to avoid that reproof of the Prophet from the Lord, I have not sent these Prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken unto them, yet they prophesied, Jerem. 23.21.

And because some are much taken with the seeming great fruit attending this course, which if throughly looked into, will not be found so as some take it to be, and would have it.

First, Gods blessing it ordinarily goeth along in his own way; Ier. 23.22. It is written, if they had stood in my Counsel, and decla­red my Word to my people, then they should have turned them from the evill of their way, &c. but for the want of this they bring no profit, saith the Lord. Voluntary Religion, and un­grounded Zeal, profiteth little; what it doth, it is acci­dentall, by the over-ruling power of the great Jehovah, whom we are not to tempt.

Secondly, The person thus employed is upon temptation, in his being thus sent forth, Eccl. 4.10. or going of himself, He going alone, and not having a second to help him up if he fall: so as sad instances now as formerly, sheweth how persons have mis­carried in this way and course.

Zealously he going forth alone on this errand, to enliven and spiritualize others, by little and little groweth cold, and dead, and carnall to himself, the World seizing on him; he at last beginneth to think that rest is good, fixeth himself in some Parish gathering, putteth forth himself to some world­ly advantage; which that he may with the more certainty enjoy, he taketh one to be Minister there, and accordingly car­rieth himself; and so by degrees he betaketh himself to do, [Page 7]what he abominated the doing of formerly; so as to his first principles and testimony touching the cause of the Congrega­tional Churches, he is wholly lost; it were to be wished, that this were not too too true, by too too many instances.

What a sad temptation was this man put upon, to be sent, or to go alone from the presence of Christ in his house and watchfull care of the Church, upon a specious Errand, with­out Divine Warrant? where, good soul, if he fall, there is no second to help him up; Eccl. 4.10. so losing the sweet society of the Saints in Christs Church, to go to converse at large in the World, where he meeteth with many a bitter pill, and dry morsell, instead of that sweet content that is injoyable in the hidden Manna in Sion; he at first may be high flown; stollen waters are sweet; But Gods blessing is in his own way; in Sion he hath appointed it, and life for evermore. Psal. 133.3.

For is it not a sad thing for a soul that is spirituall and godly, to go from the presence of Christ in his Church, and from the fellowship and communion of his Saints there, and to fix himself in a Parish to be their Minister, to officiate to them in spirituals, in which they have no savour, when of two or three hundred persons, or more, full of ignorance and pro­phaness, not two or three, if any, can be found, in whom the life of the spirit, and power of godliness doth appear? Is not the case of such a one like the living in Mesech and Ke­dar? Psal. 120.5. and his going out like that of Cain, that went out from the presence of God, and dwelt in the land of Nod? Gen. 4.16.

But in as much as this concerneth many, and is contro­vertible, though many would have it for granted before it be proved; and for that freedome in judging is necessary to be allowed to every one, as to any one, none having greater power then others to judge and conclude infallibly, neither can they, whatever they may pretend unto: for further con­sideration, by way of looking into this matter, here are sun­dry Queres proposed.

CHAP. II.

WHAT high challenge and claim the said Churches make, to be the only faithful followers of the Lord Christ in the way of his Ordinances, all others being nothing in comparison of them, is sufficiently known: but how fully and faithfully they do observe the Ordinance of Christ, not­withstanding their great boasting, may be seen for a touch, in two particulars.

First, in their not compleating their Churches with El­ders, as if that were no Ordinance of Christ, had no presidents in the Gospel, were not a duty belonging to them; as if [Page 15]that Scripture, and other of like tendency, were Apocrypha, Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the oversight of you, &c. they watch for your souls as they that must give account: Some of the aforesaid Churches have onely one single Elder, instead of Elders; and some Congregations, though numerous, and furnished with persons of great abilities in their esteem, have no Elders at all (no not one) but think themselves very well without, as if they were wiser then our Lord himself; they affectedly, as it seemeth, carry on all in common, feed and govern the Church in common, administer the Ordinances by turns by some of the most eminent members, so going in this way of their own, though it be none of Christs.

It is taken for granted, that these being no seekers, hold the continuation of all Gospel Ordinances, as attainable and enjoyable by the Saints, as the Church and Church-meetings to worship, Church-ordinances, Baptism, and the Lords Sup­per, and surely also Elders by election in every Church; Acts 14. as be­ing of the like nature with the former, and instituted for the profit of the Church also, as those were.

Which if so, how cometh it to pass, that those that speak of such high things, profess such love and faithfulness to Christ the Lord, should slight him so in his institutions, shew such partiallity towards his Ordinances as in this seemeth to ap­pear, when as the Ordinances of Christ, and his appointments are to be observed impartially, without preferring one before an­other? 1 Tim. 5.21.

What great stress is laid by these on baptizing? and to be sure to be right, they baptize over and over again; and the more to enforce this their way and course, they catch at every Scripture that maketh mention of the name of it, though it be nothing at all to the purpose for which it is al­leadged.

But though it be very commendable to observe all the Or­dinances of our Lord, and to remember all his sayings of truth, 1 Cor. 11.1. yet they can give the hearing to those places of the Word that speak of the institution of Elders in the Church, and the examples and practises of the Primitive Churches, and make nothing of it; The Church of Ephesus, Acts 20.27. with their Elders [Page 16]that holy Paul sent for to commune with, Acts 20.17. Acts 14.23. is nothing; The or­daining Elders by election in every Church, is nothing; The Elders that rule well, &c. is nothing; The Elders that are among you I beseech, which am also an Elder, feed the flock of Christ, &c. is nothing to them, for they have no Elders to be intreated; some have one single Elder onely, but many have none at all, but they have gifted brethren: but they dare not venture to come under the yoke of the Lord Christ to choose them Elders, the name would hurt their freedome, and be offensive to them; some old Elders of the Priestly race, that were bred up at Universities to Mastership, and Lordly rule, have frighted them so, as they dare not adven­ture to trust any of their brethren in the way of Christ his Ordinance, no not to bear the name, much less the office or power: But the Church must be sed, and governed, and ad­ministred unto by another way of their own devising; for though they profess to love the Lord Jesus, and some of his holy Ordinances, and are very zealous of baptizing, to wit, by dipping persons head and ears under the water (poor souls!) that were baptized before, touching which our Lord never spake one word to them of; yet the Lord Christ must have them excused in this, if they refuse to have his Church fed, and governed, and administred unto his own way, they having found out a better.

If holy Paul were to send for their Elders to commune with, as sometimes he did for the Elder of the Church of E­phesus, at what a loss would they be at to excuse themselves, in sending their gifted brethren instead of Elders?

If any of their number should be sick, and should be con­scious of their duty in that case, according to the direction of the holy Apostle, James 5. Is any sick, let him send for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray, &c. Alas (poor souls!) at what a loss are they? they have no Elders in their Churches to send for, and so for want hereof cannot perform their duty, nor comfortably upon performance thereof expect the promise, that the prayer of faith shall save the sick.

And is it not very much that Churches that have sent out [Page 17]so many Messengers out of their numbers to preach to the world to help them, which the Lord Jesus never spake to them about, nor required of them, should have no more care at home of the Church, of compleating that according to the Ordinance of Christ, that as yet they have not called, chosen, set apart, sent forth, not one into the Vineyard of the Lord Jesus, which is his Church, Esa. 5. how unlike minded they are to the Lord in this: They may please to consider, to make his Church compleat and glorious, he gave himself, he gave gifts; all their care is for others abroad, not minding the Church at home: And though there be variety of con­ceptions, and a great desire to bring forth some new thing by those of that way, some having set on foot the imitation of the greeting one another with an holy kiss, the Love­feast, or Supper before the Lords Supper, the laying on of hands, yea an endeavour after the gift of miracles, which could they attain, they would be some-body indeed. Yet is this of having the Church furnished with Elders, ge­nerally slighted and neglected of all, no stress at all being laid thereon.

Matter of Argument shall be forborn, as taking it for granted, that the defect riseth from remisness, and not from opposition, although some are disposed that way; for is it not a fine Quibble to say, that Elders are nothing but old men? so a fine sense would follow of the words of the Apostle, Act. 14. They ordained therein Elders by election in every Church: as much as to say, they ordained old men to be old men, by choosing them to be old.

But peradventure they may have taken in another Popish opinion, of a general universal Church, of which their Con­gregations are but parts (as well as that of other Churches Authority to send forth Preachers to the world) and do not hold in strictness distinct particular Congregations as in­dependent to any but the Lord Christ: so this Discourse might be at a loss indeed: but they would be at a far greater; for if the matter should be so with them, the matter of Baptism, with the great ado they keep about it excepted, they may face about, and be as before they were.

CHAP. III.

THE second particular instance in the aforesaid Churches, is their general received principle and opinion con­cerning the People of this Nation that are not of their way of re-baptizing, and under, as they call it, their Baptism of total dipping; namely, that they are of the World, and no other way to be considered, that they are Infidels, un­baptized persons, such as in that state and condition have no­thing to do with any Gospel-ordinances or worship; that the gatherings of these, chiefly the Parishes, are no Churches of Christ in any consideration, but heaps of Confusion, and Antichristian Assemblies; with which their petty Pamphlets are stuffed full, as were the Writings of their Predecessours formerly, from whom they learned the same.

But now let us see how true they are to their own prin­ciples, and how answerable their walking is to their own grounds, which they call the truths of the Lord Jesus, in fre­quently heading in worship the aforesaid people, getting up into their Pulpits, and places of Oratory, carrying on and performing their worship with them and for them, becoming their advocates and mouth to God in prayer and praises; ut­terly forgetting, 2 Cor. 6. as it seemeth, that the Temple of God and Idols should not have fellowship together; yea some of their Elders become fixed Teachers to these Assemblies, one while serving that which they call the Church of God, and then by and by that which they call the World, or an Harlot; and their Messengers which they send forth (with little warrant God knows) to preach to the world to convert them, are found thus joyning with those in their worship, that in their Principles they count enemies to the Lord, and rebels; and so they [...] in the Assembly, and be [Page 19]the mouth of these to God and men, they think all is well; as if thus to do were not a higher violation of their prin­ciples, then a persons joyning with them in a lower capacity, as a Patient, rather then an Agent or Acter in the way of their worship, which according to their principles can be reckoned for no less then Idolatry.

What earthly power would take it wel, that any under them should joyn with, much less be Chieftain and Head of such as are Rebels and Traitors to them? God is a jealous God. Did the Apostles of our Lord, or any that were of the Pri­mitive Churches, enter into the Idols Temple, when the Ido­laters were assembled to worship, and there officiate and carry on the worship for them, under a specious pretence of converting of them? Gal. 2.14. is such a course the right way to the Gospel? Nay, did they or any of them in the Temple or Sy­nagogues take on to be Masters or Heads of the Assemblies there, and carry on the worship that was there performed? Though the Jews were otherwise considerable in their re­lation to God, then to be counted simply of the world; In­deed in the Temple, and in the Synagogues they published the Lord Jesus; but that they prayed there as the mouth of the multitude, I have not read, much less that they did it in a worship wise, or that they in the Temple or Synagogues be­gan their preaching of Christ with a set prayer before, and a solemn prayer, and thanksgiving, and blessing after, according to the worship wise of the Nation.

The Assemblies into which these Messengers and gifted Brethren go thus to preach, or make Orations and Prayers, being united to these Preachers for the time as their Head, their Leader, their Mouth, one that is their Instrument, acteth for them, and in their behalf, in worshipping of God, he and they making up one Body or Assembly.

If this be a coming from among them, 2 Cor. 6. and a touching no un­clean thing, I am deceived; and so I am also, if this come not within the reproof of the Apostle in the following words, What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? what concord hath Christ with Belial? what part hath the Believer [Page 20]with the Infidel? or the Temple of God with Idols? 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16.

The judgement and practice of these (to any indifferent mans discerning that shall weigh them) fighting one with the other, their practice offering to their principles the great­est affront and violence that possibly can be, which some in­genuous and conscientious amongst themselves see well enough:

Were it not good for them either to amend their prin­ciples, or their practice, or both? indeed they have great cause to mend both, especially their principles: for they are very harsh, uncharitable, unchristian, yea unsound, without foundation in the Word of God.

But alas, though many of them see something this way, yet they must keep up their principles, lest they shake and overthrow the whole building of their way of baptizing, by total dipping for Baptism such as were baptized before, which is their beloved Darling.

Did the Primitive Christians go into the Idols Temples, joyn with those there, come together to worship, help them to carry on their worship in the solemn meetings for that end? The poor blind Jews medled not with the Samaritans: yet these, notwithstanding the vast distance their principles do make between themselves, and others not of their way, can meddle with them in the things of worship, under a spe­cious pretence of preaching the Gospel unto them; and so as with Diotrephes, they may have the preheminence to be the head of the Assembly, and mouth of, and to the whole, it shall bear them out, and they shall be no Trespassers. O there is some secret mysterie in it, this being the mouth, some cordial preservative from the pollution of Idolatry, that excuseth, preserveth and bears out all.

For let but any of their number joyn with the aforesaid Assemblies, to wit, the Parishes, when they in their worship officiate by their own Ministers, and they shall be accounted Trespassers of so high a nature, as to deserve for their Idola­try to be cast out, as some have been: but as before, this [Page 21]being the mouth, it helpeth all; and the pretence of preach­ing to convert them, shall carry it out: but it doth not serve to satisfie all, for something of this nature hath made a breach lately in one of their most eminent Churches, as they well know.

Is it not a great pity to see them that are so fully separate from the world, and the Idolatries of it, as they pretend they are, so to pollute and defile themselves in mixing and joyning with Idolaters, and unbaptized Infidels? not hearkning to the good counsel of the Spirit by the holy Apostle, John 5. Babes, keep your selves from Idols, Amen. So as I shall onely propose unto them the review of their principles, and more serious consideration of the consistency that is in them each with other, as a close in this particular; as also concerning the uncompleatness of their Churches for want of Elders, they may please to consider of it. And in regard of their Messengers, the sending of them forth to preach unto the world, in which they are so forward and zealous; they may do well to consult their Authority better, and to see whe­ther they be sufficiently impowered by the Lord Christ so to do; and withall to consider seriously, whether those they shall purpose hereafter to send forth, be sufficiently qualified with gifts, before they give forth new commissions; and to see whether it be not necessary for their Brethren to tarry and wait in the Church untill the holy Ghost shall come upon them, Acts 1.4. and they be enabled to speak with tongues; V. 8. or till he say to them, as he did to the Church of Antioch, Separate me Paul and Barnabas for the work, &c. Acts 13.

For truly it is a low and Un-Gospel like thing for any to be sent, or to go to some little corner of the land of their na­tivity, where the name of Christ is known already, and not to go to places and people that have not heard of him; to de­clare his name there, even to the utmost ends of the earth; but alas, poor, low and dumb Messengers, they cannot do it; they want the gift of tongues, and something else, so as to be able to cause every Nation to hear in their language the won­derful works of God, Acts 2.6, 8, 11.

In the mean time, while they are thus waiting, these Churches may do well to choose these able Brethren that are fit for Apostles and Messengers in a preaching way to the world, to choose them Elders and Officers of their Churches, and so they would be found more compleat and Gospel-like then now they are, and better fed, governed and administred unto according to the mind of Christ: For sure they cannot think them unfit or unworthy to be Elders or Officers in the Church, whom they count fit or worthy to be sent forth as Messengers of their Churches in a preaching Apostolique way.

But what all that hath been said will avail, is not easy to determine; the belly hath no ears; something of humane wisedom, and of the spirit of the world, will, it may be fear­ed, be found making opposition, to the perverting the strait waies of the Lord.