An examination of sundry Scriptures alleadged by our brethren, in defence of some particulars of their church-way.: Humbly submitted to the sight and censure of any judicious divine: especially of such of the reverend godly-learned Assembly as vouchsafe to read it. By R. Hollingworth, M.A. of Magd. Col. Camb. Imprimatur, Ja. Cranford. Decemb. 17. 1644.

4. The visible Church in the New Testament is not Nationall, as the Jewish was; hence we read of the Churches of Galatia, Macedonia, Judea, not Church of Galatia, 1 Cor. 16.1. &c. 2 Cor. 8.1. &c.

We say not that the Christian Church is Nationall, as was the Jewish Church, viz. that it hath a Nationall Tabernacle, Temple or House of God, and solemn Worship peculiar to it, to which all the Members, or all the Males must sometimes resort, towards which the absent are to pray, and in which the Priests in their courses do minister unto God: not say we that the Scriptures do mention a Nationall Church; for the Supreme Magistrate was an enemy to Christian Religion, & Regis ad exemplum, &c.(i) many of the people were of the same minde, as it is this day in France and Spain, and was in England in Queen Maries days: Believers (it is like) were not so many as to bear the name of a Land or Nation, nor could they have liberty safely and freely to meet in such great Assem∣blies as Nationall Synods. Shew me a Nation of Magistrates and people converted, and I will shew you a Nationall Church; but if there could not then be a Nationall Church, as in Queen Maries times our Church was not Nationall, it is no wonder if there were none, (Ʋltra posse, non est esse) whether Nationall Churches be lawfull or unlawfull.

Arguments taken from the naked appellation of the word Church or Churches, are very unsatisfactory, because of the va∣rious acceptations of the words Kahal, Gnedah, Ecclesia, Sy∣nagoga, which we sometimes translate Church, but should al∣ways

translate, Convocation or Congregation, a company called out, or gathered together.

The English word, Church; Saxon, Cyric, and Scots, Kirk, are derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Cambd. Rem. or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Sir Hen. Spelm. which (as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) signifies the place of meeting. Hence we read of Robbers of Churches or Temples, Acts 19.37. Kahal (whence our English word call) is sometimes Meta∣nymically understood of the place. The Heathen enter into the Sanctuary, which God had forbidden to enter into the Church, Lam. 1.10. cum Deut. 23.3. Nehem. 13.1. To come together 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is (if it be rightly translated) to come together in one place, and so Ecclesia is opposed to the buildings or houses in which they did eat and drink, 1 Cor 11.19, 20, 21, 22, ult. Synagoga is evidently taken for the place of meeting, Luke 7.5. Acts 18.7. Neverthelesse the words Kahal and Gnedah, do sometimes signifie a dispersed multitude or compa∣ny (that (possibly) never did or could meet together) hence we read of a church of Nations, Gen. 35.11. church of evil∣doers, Psal. 26.5. church of the dead, Prov. 21.16. church of the Righteous, Psal. 1.5. And the people of Israel, though divided into severall domesticall Assemblies to keep the Passeover, are called one Church, Exod. 12.46.47. But usually an Assembly or Concio, is all one with Kahal or Ecclesia, whether that Assembly was orderly or disorderly, good or bad, lesse or greater, Jer. 50.9. a church of the Nations, Ezek. 32.22. Asshur and his church, Acts 19.39, 40. lawfull church dismissed the church. When all the Israelitish men, women and children were toge∣ther, they were but one congregation, which, in the Dialect of the Translatours of the New Testament, is all one with one church, Acts 7.38. When all the Israelites did not meet (for all the members of the Jewish Church did never meet after their setling in the Land of Canaan, nor all the males, save thrice every yeer) they that met, though scarce the half or third part of them that were of the Jewish Faith and Com∣munion, were notwithstanding called all the church, the whole church, Josh. 9.18, 19. & 22.12. Ezra 2.64. And when there was a great Assembly, then the Scripture tells us, There was a great church. I set a great church, a very great church.

Nehem. 5.7. 2 Chron. 7.8. & 30.13. Ezra 10.1. accounting no more persons of the Church, but those that were then as∣sembled, yea Simeon and Levies assembly is called a Church unto which Jacobs honour should not be united, Gen. 49.6. and those many that were gathered together, praying in the house of Mary, are called the Church (though James and his Brethren were not there, not (it may be) the tenth part of those, which (in our sense) were of the Jewish Church.) Acts 12.12. cum 5; Yea 4 or 5. in a family, joyning in the worship of God, are called a Church, Rom. 16.5. 1 Cor. 16.19. Philem. v. 2. In this sence there were many Churches among the Jews. The Scripture calls them Church, or con∣gregation often, and sometimes in respect of their severall Synagogues, Tribes, and Families, Congregations, Psal. 74.4.8. The phrase, Churches of Judaea which were in Christ, seems to imply that some Churches in Judaea were not in Christ, 1 Thess. 2.14. Gal. 1.22. No wonder therefore if that Christians of one Country meeting in severall Syna∣gogues, Jam 2.2. Heb. 10.25. Acts 19.8, 9. & 22.19. Acts 13.15, 16, 43. and Houses, Acts 12.12. Rom. 16.5. do receive the denomination of Churches which in Scripture phrase is all one with assemblies, many whereof we confesse were in Galatia, Macedonia, &c.

But more particularly, you say there were Churches in Ga∣latia, Ergo, they were Congregationall.

Answ. Galatia was a large Country, as is intimated Acts 18.23. The Galaetians in Saint Pauls time, held all Paphlago∣nia, a part of Phrygia, Cappadocia, and of all the neighbouring Countries round about, which after their names were called Gallograetia, or Gallatia, containing in them the Cities and Churches of Antioch and Laodicea, (as Macedonia also did in∣clude Philippi, Thessalonica, Berhaea &c.) In England (a far lesse Country then either of them) in former times have been se∣verall Churches at once, and yet those Churches not meerly Congregationall, but Nationall rather.

The Churches of Galatia might (for ought you alleadge to the contrary) be combined one to another, as the Churches of England, Scotland, Holland, France, are respectively com∣bined:

For the Apostle speaks of them as one lump, 1 Cor. 5.6. cum Gal. 5.9. and wisheth the anathematizing or excommu∣nicating of him that troubleth them, Gal. 1.8, 9. & 5.10.12. and the restoring with the spirit of meeknesse (both which I take to be Acts of Discipline)(k) of a fallen brother, Gal. 6.1. And the Churches of Macedonia were not so severall, but they joyned in one to choose a brother (which I conceive was an Authoritive act) to go with Paul for the managing of the Churches contributions, 2 Cor. 8.18, 19. and the Churches of Judaea, consisting of Myriads of people, did come together, Acts 21.20, 21, 22. to be satisfied of Paul concerning an ac∣cusation they had received against him; and are called a Church, Gal. 1.13. Acts 12.1. and an house, Heb. 3.4. which title you say is not given to loose stones and timber, but imports knit∣ting and joynting one to another.

Notes

• (i)

  M-to H. teacheth us thus to answer.
• See Answ. to 2.
• (k)

  Cott. keyes v 8.9. doth so take them.