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

SECT. VIII.

Touching the English Church at Franckford in Q. Maries time.

IO. DAV.(i) And to conclude, thus it was ordered in the English Church at Franckford, among the exiles in those Marian dayes, that if all the Ministers and Seniors be suspected, or found parties; if any appeale be made from them, that then such appeale be made to the body of the Congregation, &c. and that the body of the Congregation may appoint so many of the Congregation to heare and determine the said matter, or matters, as it shall seeme good to the Congregation. Againe, If any controversy be about the doubtfull meaning of any word or words in the Discipline, that first it be referred to the Ministers, or Seniors: and if they cannot agree thereupon, then the thing be referred to the whole Congregation.

ANSVV. I. It is to be observed, that these two Articles of Discipline being alledged against me by(k) M^r Canne as well as by M^r Dav. there is this difference betwixt them, that M^r Canne addes more words then he should, and M^r Daven. omits some words that should have been added. That which M^r Canne addes, is against himselfe, and serves to condemne the practise of the Brownists, when he faith of the Ministers and Seniors, that they have authority to heare & determine, &c. That which M^r Dav. omits, and refuseth to expresse, serveth to reproove such as complaine unjustly of excepting against the Elders judgement. For when that 62^d Article speakes of appeale to be made unto the body of the Congregation, the Ministers, Seniors, & parties excepted; this latter clause shewes there is just cause of excepting against the Elders judgement sometimes; and that they are to be refu∣sed as incompetent judges, being parties. This brief clause being of speciall use in our controversy, ought not to have bene omitted by M^r Dav.

II. That which they alledge for appeale unto the body of the Congregation, doth not overthrow the authority of Synods. This granting one kinde of appeale doth not exclude or deny another. Seeing particular Congregations are subject to errour, and many of them dayly doe erre, why should not appeale be granted from them unto Classes and Synods, especially where there is no Magistrate that can or will judge of such errours?

III. This appeale made unto the body of the Congregation was not usually permitted, but extraordinarily in cases of speciall necessity, when the Ministers and Seniors were not able to end the controversies brought unto them: the ex∣presse words of the Article are(l) in case they cannot end them, then afterwards to be re∣ferred to the whole Congregation. Their ordinary practise was otherwise, as appeares in other Articles of their Discipline, where it is plainly ordained,(m) that the Mi∣nisters and Seniors shall have authority to heare and determine, on the behalf of the whole Church all offences (determinable by the Congregation) committed by any person in the Con∣gregation: unlesse the partie called before them have just occasion to take exception to the sayd Ministers and Seniors; or to appeale from them as not competent judges. And afterwards

againe there is another strict and severe decree(n) If any person doe unjustly take excep∣tions to any of the Ministers, or appeale from the whole ministery: that then such persons, be∣side the punishment for the principall cause shall also be punished as a contemner of the Mini∣stery and a disturber of the Church. This order, as it serves to condemne the practise of the Brownists, as tending to the disturbance of the Church, while they give no power of judging and deciding causes unto the Eldership; so it serves for the reproofe both of them and M^r Davenp. in denying the authority of Synods: for if the Church may in ordinary cases commit their authority unto an Eldership, & not deprive themselves of their right, then why may they not doe so likewise un∣to Classes and Synods?

IIII. This English Church at Franckford did commit and delegate the pow∣er of judging controversies, not onely to their Elders, but upon occasion even unto other particular and private members of the Church, which had no Eccle∣siasticall office; and this in divers degrees, as 1. In case some of the Eldership, though the lesser part, were excepted against as parties: 2. When the greater part were excepted against: 3. When all the Ministers and Seniors were suspec∣ted, &c. Thus they did erect as it were three severall sorts of Classes or Synods within themselves for the judicature of such causes as could not be ended by the Eldership. Thus they ordained in these three severall Articles of their Disci∣pline, which follow.

Of the first sort:(o) Item, if any have just occasion to take exception to some of the Ministers and Seniors, and not to the more part: that then those of the Ministers and Seniors to whom the exception is made, in this case shall not be judges, but in this case for the time removed from the ministery, and that the rest of the Ministers and Seniors to whom no exception shall be made, with as many of the Congregation joyned to them, as they be in number which shall be excepted, shall be arbiters and judges in the sayd causes: and that the sayd persons so to be joyned to the Ministers and Seniors, shall be appoynted by the Congregation, the Ministers and Seniors not excepted, giving their voyces as others of the Congregation.

Of the second sort:(p) Item, if exception be taken to the more part of the Mi∣nisters and Seniors, that then the Church shall appoynt six moe to be judges with the rest of the Ministers, against whom exception is not made: the same rest of the Ministers having their voyces in the election of the six, as other members of the Church.

Of the third sort:(q) Item, if all the Ministers and Seniors be suspected or found parties, or if any appeale be made from them, that then such appeale be made to the body of the Congregation, the Ministers, Seniors and parties excepted. And that the body of the Congregation may appoint so many of the Congrega∣tion to heare and determine the sayd matter or matters, as it shall seeme good to the Congregation.

Now as in all these Cōmissions the Church did not loose her authority, but did rather exercise the same herein; this very act of delegation being a testimony of her power: so in like manner (if the example of this Church alledged against me

may be followed of us) other Churches may also send their Deputies and Dele∣gates unto Classes & Synods, for the judgement & decision of such causes as can∣not be so well ended among themselves.

V. Lest any should object that in all these Deputations, the judgement of controversies was referred unto such Officers or members of the Church as were within the same Congregation, and that they did not submit their causes to the determination of any other judges out of themselves; it is therefore further to be observed that there was an order agreed upon by the English Church at Franck∣ford, that in the time of their contention(r) the matter should be determined by these five notable learned men, which were of other Churches, to wete, Calvin, Musculus, Martyr, Bullinger & Viret. This agreement was put in writing. To that all gave their con∣sents. This day was joyfull. Thankes were given to God, brotherly reconciliation followed, &c. Yea the holy communion was upon this happy agreement also ministred. This agree∣ment is often repeated, & layd downe as a ground of comfort, & as a proof of their equity that did most constantly cleave thereunto.

Afterwards againe, when more contention was raysed in that Church, both the opposite parties were content not onely to heare the counsell & advise of men in other Churches, but to submit unto their judgement, as farre as men may sub∣mit unto the sentence of any particular Church whatsoever. And for evidence hereof it is recorded how the one part of the Church declared their minde by this(s) writing following:

We offer & permit with most willing mindes (having the licence of the Ma∣gistrate as it may well be for this purpose) that all our controversies and conten∣tions whatsoever, which have bene sowne and brought in among us sithence the beginning of this breach, and since the first day we began to strive, untill this present time and houre: to be debated, decided and determined by Arbiters, being none of this our Congregation, and yet from among the brethren, our countrie men, equally and indifferently, by the parties disagreeing, to be cho∣sen upon this condition, that not onely the election of Ministers and besides all other things done by the order of the sayd discipline, stand in suspence, to be al∣lowed or disallowed by the determination and judgement of the Arbiters to be chosen as is aforesaid. written the 5. of April, Anno 1557.

The other part of the Church did in like manner witnesse their consent, by their writing, the copie whereof was as followeth:

We submit ourselves and are contented to commit all manner of controver∣sies that have heretofore risen amongst us in the Church, to such Arbiters as the Magistrate hath appointed, and to all such as they call unto them to the hea∣ring and determining thereof, according to Gods word and good reason. And thus simply and plainly without any manner of exception or condition. In wit∣nes whereof we have subscribed our names the 5. of April, Anno 1557.

Though there were some differences betwixt these parties in other particulars, yet they all agreed in this, to commit authority & power unto some out of them∣selves, whom they would set up as Judges over them. Hereby it doth appeare that they did not confine and restraine the judgement of Ecclesiasticall causes

within the limits of one particular Congregation onely. And if a particular Church might thus referre their controversies to the judgement of foure or five persons out of themselves, then might they as well or better be referred to the judgement of many Churches united together in Classes and Synods.

VI. This English Church which sojourned at Franckford, for foure or five yeares in Q. Maries time, was not a setled and established Church: they wanted the opportunity of combining themselves with other English Churches. It was the misery of this Church, that they wanted the help of ordinary Classes and Sy∣nods: and it is unreasonable to make the speciall defect or want of some one Church, a precedent for other Churches, to deprive them of that mutuall help which they may conveniently enjoy, and which God offers unto them. This English Church(t) was exercised with great troubles and continuall dissentions all the time of their abode at Franckford, to the great grief and offence of many. The forme of their Discipline, and these Articles here objected by M^r Dav. and M^r Can. were not fully agreed upon: the Pastour and the Elders with some of the Church dissented from the greater part of the Congregation. And in such case, as M^r Fenner, before mentioned, doth testify,(v) the controversy ought to have bene brought to a greater Senate, to a Classis or Synod, which he calles a Presby∣tery of more Churches, for the deciding thereof. The want of this was the cause of their woe.

VII. The English Church at Franckford in the want of a Classis might so much the rather allow appeales unto the Congregation, because there were in that Church many learned men, able to discerne and judge of causes. In that Church(x) they set up an Vniversity, and chose severall men for the reading of He∣brew, Greek, and Divinity lectures. The learned men that repaired unto this Church were also as famous for their piety and sincerity, enduring persecution for the Gospell of Christ, choosing rather to live in banishment with their afflicted brethren, then to enjoy the pleasures and promotions of Antichrist, which they might have had in their owne countrie, if they would have bowed their necks to his yoke. In such a Church it was more tolerable to appeale unto the body of the Congregation, then in many other that are farre unlike. And yet if such a Church, abounding with so many Worthies, could not well subsist alone, in their want of a Classicall government, but fell into so great contentions and scandals; this may justly serve for the warning of other Churches, and teach them to seek the help of neighbour-churches, & to submit themselves mutually unto such combinati∣ons, as the Lord shall give opportunity.

Lastly, when as afterwards it pleased God to visit his people, and to restore the light of the Gospel and true Religion unto England by that gracious and noble instrument of his goodnes, Qu. Elizabeth, of ever blessed memory, then these ex∣cellent and eminent lights of his Church returning againe into their country, did give a plaine testimony unto this trueth, that all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction is not limited unto a particular Congregation. Some of them being promoted unto chief places of government in England, did by their practise professe that particu∣lar Churches may submit themselves unto a superiour authority out of their owne

Congregation. Some of them became Ministers of the Church of Scotland, & stood for the maintenance of that Discipline, which from the beginning of the Reformation, acknowledged the authority and jurisdiction of Synods. None of them (for ought I ever heard) that dreamed of the single uncompounded policie. Though there were some differences among them concerning the government of the Church, yet no one of them or of those other exiles who had sojourned at Strasbrough, Basel, Zurick, Arrow, Geneva and other places, in Q. Maries dayes, that left behinde them any monument of their agreement with M^r Dav. & M^r Cann. in limiting Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction unto a particular Church. But of this sto∣ry, we have occasion to speak further hereafter,(y) where M^r Can. againe brings more objections from thence.

Notes

• (i)

  Apol. re∣ply. p. 243. A discourse of the trou∣bles in the Engl. Chur. at Franckf. Art. 62. Art. 67.
• (k)

  Chur∣ches plea, p. 36.
• (l)

  ••isc▪ of troubl in Engl Ch. at Franckf. art. 57.
• (m)

  Ibid. art. 59.
• (n)

  Art. 63.
• (o)

  Art. 60.
• (p)

  Art. 61.
• (q)

  Art. 62.
• (r)

  Ibid. p. 37.38. & 41.48.
• (s)

  P. 100.101.
• (t)

  Disc. of troubl. in Engl. Ch. at Franckf. p. 27, &c. p. 62, &c. p. 135, &c.
• (v)

  S. Theol. l. 7. c. 7. p. 278, &c.
• (x)

  Disc. &c p. 60.
• (y)

  Chap. 7. Sect. 5.