A defence of church-government, exercised in presbyteriall, classicall, & synodall assemblies; according to the practise of the reformed churches

SECT. I.

His Allegation of Mr Cartwright answered.

FOr Mr Cartwright; His owne words undivided are these:(c) 1.1

And if it should happē (which may come to passe) that any Church should desire or choose, or consent upon by the most part, some that is unmeet, either for doctrine or manners, then the Ministers and Elders of the other Churches round about, should advertise first, and afterward as occasion should serve, sharply & severely charge, that they forbeare such election, or if it be made, that they confirme it not, by suffering him to exercise any ministerie. And if either the Churches round about doe faile of this duety, or the Church which is admonished, rest not in their Admonition, then to bring it to the next Synode, and if it rest not

therein, then the Prince or Magistrate, which must see that nothing in the Churches be disorderly and wickedly done, ought to drive that Church from that election to another which is convenient.

Now upon these words M^r Dav. without any just explication or further declaration thereof, makes this bold and unreasonable conclusion.(d) 1.2 Thus Mr Cartwright. So that in his judgement, other Churches have no power of hindring a faulty election, but by admonition, which power every Christian hath in another, for his good. But that Mr Cartw. giveth more power unto the Churches and Synod, then that which every Christian hath, & more then the power of admonition onely, it appeareth thus:

I. He doth in this place manifestly distinguish betwixt admonition, & a charge or commandement, which implyes a greater power and authority; when as he sayth of the Classis, or of the Ministers and Elders of the Churches round about, that they should advertise first, which notes their admonition, and afterward sharply & severely charge, which implyes a commandement and authority therein. There∣fore in Scripture one and the same* 1.3 word is usually and indifferently translated ei∣ther to charge or command, Matt. 10.5. Luk. 8.29. Act. 1.4. & 4.18. & 5.28. 1. Tim. 4.11. with Luk. 5.14. & 8.56. 1. Tim. 1.18. & 5.7. & 6.13, 17. thereby to expresse a speciall authoritie of such as use the same. And the propriety of this word is thus declared by Mr Cartwr. himself, when expounding those words of Paul, 1. Tim. 6.13. he saith,(e) 1.4 It is to be noted that he saith [I denounce or I charge] he doth not say [I exhort or give counsell] leaving it to the liberty of Timothie, And thus here we are in like manner to understand him, when he tells how a Clas∣sis of Ministers and Elders were sharply and severely to charge a Church, that they used an authority more then of exhorting or admonishing and counselling, so that the matter was not left in the liberty of them that were so charged.

II. He proceeds further, and after both admonition and a severe charge or prohibition, he shewes that the Classis hath yet more to doe in this busines, if their charge be not regarded, in respect of the unlawfull election, viz. that they confirme it not by suffering him to exercise any ministery. Whereas ordinarily Ministers newly e∣lected are confirmed and ordained by imposition of hands by some Ministers of the Churches neere unto them; this Mr Cartwr. would have to be denyed unto him. And this denyall of his ordination after his election, is to be esteemed a kinde of censure, in some sort proportionable to the deposition of a Minister already confirmed; seeing keeping out or casting out from the Ministery, are actions of like nature. And this is that which Mr Fenner, who was well acquainted with the meaning of Mr Cartwr. in these things, poynteth at, when speaking of a con∣troversy rising in a Church about the calling of a Minister, he saith;(f) 1.5 that the cause is to be referred unto the judges whom it concerneth, (and who are after mentioned) that they may eyther ratify the election or make it frustrate. Now in the Ecclesiasticall poli∣tie these judges are no other then Classes or Synods, whereof he afterward speakes; and this their abrogating and making voyd an unlawfull election, is a power more then simple admonition.

III. Whereas Mr Cartwr. here saith, that if either the Churches round about doe faile of this duety, or the Church which is admonished, rest not therein, then to bring it to the

next Synod, &c. hereupon(g) 1.6 D. Whitgift calles for proof of Scripture, comman∣dement or example to justify this order. Mr Cartw. in his second Reply having first shewed other warrant for admonition by Churches, proceeds further and saith,(h) 1.7 That from the admonition of the Churches, it is meet to come to Synods, if the judge∣ment of the Churches be contemned; may be shewed by proportion from the place of our Saviour Christ in S. Matthew, ch. 18. for as when one brother is not mooved with the admonition of two or three, the matter must be referred unto the Church, to see whether the majestie of it will moove him, whom the authority of two or three would not: even so it is meet that the Church, that maketh light of the judgement of two or three Churches, should be pressed with the judge∣ments of the Diocesse or Province, as shall be in that behalf advised. From this proportion, seeing the rule, Matt. 18. was not onely a rule of admonition, but also a rule for the exercise of authority in censuring, it followes hence in like manner, that many Churches combined in a Synod, have power to censure as well as to admonish.

IV. Mr Cartwr. doth further declare his meaning in the same place, when he alledgeth the example of the Reformed Churches in this matter: If I were in this poynt (saith(i) 1.8 he) destitute of the word of God: yet the naked examples of the Reformed Churches ought to weigh downe a Popish custome. Now it is undenyable, that the Re∣formed Churches doe allow the use of Classes and Synods, not onely for counsell or admonition, but also for the exercise of Ecclesiasticall authority and jurisdiction in judging of causes & censuring of offendours.

V. Mr Cartwr. speaking of the utmost that can be done by a Classis, or by Mi∣nisters and Elders of neighbour Churches in time of persecution, wanting a Chri∣stian Magistrate, against an obstinate Church that refuseth to be admonished, saith,(k) 1.9 If they excommunicate the whole Church, it is a hard matter, and yet if they may doe that; there is all they can doe. To excommunicate a whole Church together, is indeed a hard thing, and such a thing as I never heard of in the practise of the Reformed Chur∣ches: yet this intimates that he thought they had a power of excommunicating at least some, if not all, upon a just occasion. And when D. Whitg.(l) 1.10 answering to a testimony of Cyprian alledged by Mr Cartwr. saith, Who ever denyed but that the Sy∣nods might excommunicate? Mr C.(m) 1.11 replying againe unto him, yet shewes no dislike at all or difference from his Opposite herein, which yet he ought to have done, if he had thought it an undue power, & to have reproved him for giving this power of the greatest censure, even of excommunication unto Synods. Hence it appeares that he was farre from limiting all jurisdictiō unto a particular Church; that he allowed Synods more power then of counselling or admonishing.

VI. Mr Parker speaking of this very place in Mr Cartw. and vindicating it from the opposition of D. Whitg. shewes that he agrees with me in the interpreta∣tion thereof, and not with Mr Dav. He sayth,(n) 1.12 Cum pressisset Thomas Cartwrightus Ecclesiarum Reformatarum morem, &c. When T. C. had urged the manner of the Refor∣med Churches in correcting the faulty election of Ministers, first by a Classis; if that prevay∣led not by a Synod; if that fayled also, by the Magistrate, &c. For if the example, custome and practise of the Reformed Churches be urged herein, then doth he not speak of hindring an unlawfull election by admonition or counsell onely; then doth he acknowledge a further authority of judgement & censure in the Classes.

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VII. The judgement of Mr Cartwr. touching the authority of Synods is manifest by that right which he asscribeth unto them for the decision of causes, and not for counsell onely, as was shewed* 1.13 before: and this may further be seen by that blame which is imputed unto him for Scottizing and Genevating, declared* 1.14 hereafter. Had he bene of this new opinion, he could not have defended the cause of Reformation so as he did, but should have opened the mouth of his ad∣versaries against him otherwise then he hath done.

Notes

• (c) 1.1

  T. C. •• Reply, p. 49 2 edit.
• (d) 1.2

  Apol. re∣ply, p. 47.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (e) 1.4

  T. C. 1 Rep. p. 177.
• (f) 1.5

  S. Theol. l. 7. c. 2. p. 244.
• (g) 1.6

  Def. of Answ. to Admon. p. 173.
• (h) 1.7

  T.C. 2 Reply. p. 231, 232.
• (i) 1.8

  Ibid. p. 232.
• (k) 1.9

  T.C. 1 Repl. p. 52.
• (l) 1.10

  Def. of Answ. to Adm. p. 675
• (m) 1.11

  Rest of 2 Rep. p. 89
• (n) 1.12

  Pol. Ecc. lib. 3. c. 24. p. 353.
• * 1.13

  Pag. 47. 48.
• * 1.14

  Chap. 7. sect. 5.