A26897:147
Church concord
Church concord containing I. a dissuasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.Church concord containing I. a disswasive from unnecessary division and separation, and the real concord of the moderate independents with the Presbyterians, instanced in ten seeming differences, II. by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 5: Difference III. Of the Extent of a particular Church.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Chap. V. Difference III. Of the Extent of a particular Church.
THE third Point wherein they seem to differ, is about the Extent of a particular Political Church, viz. Whether it be a single Congregation, or divers Congregations? Whether the Ecclesia Prima or a particular Church of the first Generation, as distinct from a Combination of Churches, should be no more than can meet in One place, and hold personal Communion in the Worship of God? Here is an appearance of some difference, but really none that will find a Reconciler work. Some Presbyterians distinguish indeed between a Worshipping Church, and a Governed Church: and they would have1 a single Congregation to be one Worshipping Church, but many conjoined in their Pastors to be the first or lowest Governing Church. But that is but in cases of necessity, when there are not Elders enough in the single Worshipping Church. So that really both Parties are agreed, 1. That a particular Church may consist of One single Congregation if it be but furnished with more than one Elder for the work of Government. (Though for my own part I am quite out of doubt that where one man only is the Pastor or Governor of a Church, that man only may Govern that Church, and do the work of a Pastor to that Church▪) 2. And they are agreed, ⟨p. 22⟩that a Church that doth not or cannot ordinarily2 meet in one place, may yet be a true particular Church.
THE third Point wherein they seem to differ, is about the Extent of a particular Political Church, viz. Whether it be a single Congregation, or divers Congregations? Whether the Ecclesia Prima or a particular Church of the first Generation, as distinct from a Combination of Churches, should be no more than can meet in One place, and hold personal Communion in the Worship of God? Here is an appearance of some difference, but really none that will find a Reconciler work. Some Presbyterians distinguish indeed between a Worshipping Church, and a Governed Church: and they would have