Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

2. That which Mr. Stillingfleet calleth [A Form] is none of the Substance of the Government it self, nor the Offices in the Church: He granteth that 1. Worshipping Assemblies are of Divine appointment; 2. That every one of these must have one or more Pastors who have power in their Order to teach them, and go before them in Worship, and spiritually guide or govern them. But 1. Whether a Church shall have one Pastor or more; 2. Whether one of them shall be in some things subject to another; 3. Whether constant Synods shall be held for concord of Associated Churches; 4. Whether in these Synods one shall be Moderator? and how long? and with what Authority? (not unreasonable), these he thinks are left undetermined: And I am of his mind; supposing General Rules to guide them by as he doth. But the Matter (and Manner) of Church-Discipline being of God's appointment, and the Nature and Ends of a particular Church, and the Office of Pastors (as well as the Form of the Church Universal), it is past doubt that nothing which subverteth any of these is lawful. And indeed, if properly no Form of Government be instituted by God, then no Form of a Church neither: for the Form of Government is the Form of a Church (considered in sensu politico, and not as a mere Community). And then the Church of England is not of God's making: Quest. Who then made it? Either another Church made this Church (and then, what was that Church, and who made its Form, and so ad Originem) or no Church made it: If no Church made the Church of England, quo jure? or what is its Authority and Honour? If the King made it, was he a Member of a Church or not? If yea, 1. There was then a Church-Form before the Church of England; And who made that Church usque ad Originem? If the King that made it was no Member of a Church, then he that is no Member of a Church, may institute a Church Form; but quo jure? and with what Honour to that Church? But it is certain that a particular Congregation with its proper Bishop or Pastors is a Church-Form of Christ's Institution.

2. That which Mr. Stillingfleet calleth [A Form] is none of the Substance of the Government it self, nor the Offices in the Church: He granteth that 1. Worshipping Assemblies are of Divine appointment; 2. That every one of these must have one or more Pastors who have power in their Order to teach them, and go before them in Worship, and spiritually guide or govern them. But 1. Whether a Church shall have one Pastor or more; 2. Whether one of them shall be in some things subject to another; 3. Whether constant Synods shall be held for concord of Associated Churches; 4. Whether in these Synods one shall be Moderator? and how long? and with what Authority? (not unreasonable), these he thinks are left undetermined: And I am of his mind; supposing General Rules to guide them by as he doth. But the Matter (and Manner) of Church-Discipline being of God's appointment, and the Nature and Ends of a particular Church, and the Office of Pastors (as well as the Form of the Church Universal), it is past doubt that nothing which subverteth any of these is lawful. And indeed, if properly no Form of Government be instituted by God, then no Form of a Church neither: for the Form of Government is the Form of a Church (considered in sensu politico, and not as a meer Community). And then the Church of England is not of God's making: Quest. Who then made it? Either another Church made this Church (and then, what was that Church, and who made its Form, and so ad Originem) or no Church made it: If no Church made the Church of England, quo jure? or what is its Authority and Honour? If the King made it, was he a Member of a Church or not? If yea, 1. There was then a Church-Form before the Church of England; And who made that Church usque ad Originem? If the King that made it was no Member of a Church, then he that is no Member of a Church, may institute a Church Form; but quo jure? and with what Honour to that Church? But it is certain that a particular Congregation with its proper Bishop or Pastors is a Church-Form of Christ's Institution.