The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…

Answ. 1. The Proofs alleged do show, that the Communion of Saints ought to be preserved and exercised in Church-Communion by Believers, joining to a particular Congregation, and walking in a Memberlike affection and fellowship with their Brethren, unto mutual edification; but they speak nothing for the subjection of particular Churches to Classes and Synods, in re ⟨p. 128⟩propriâ, but rather intimate the contrary: For the Apostle, by comparing a Congregational-Church completed with its Officers, unto the Body of a man entire in all its Members, showeth, that as the Body of a man, being entire and sound, hath complete power within it self, for all bodily actions; so a particular Church, being organized, and governed by Christ, the Head, from whom the whole Body fitly joined and compacted together, by Joints of supply, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love, Ephes. 4.15, 16. without the influence of any Jurisdiction out of it self, to supply a Superior Church-power, which was wanting in this Body of Christ, a Congregational-Church; and as the Body Natural, being sound and of a good constitution, hath sufficient ability in it self, to purge out of it self Malignant Humours; so such a Church hath sufficient power in it self, to cast out vicious and hurtful Members, without the intervention of Classical Jurisdiction over them.

Answ. 1. The Proofs alleadged do shew, that the Communion of Saints ought to be preserved and exercised in Church-Communion by Believers, joyning to a particular Congregation, and walking in a Memberlike affection and fellowship with their Brethren, unto mutual edification; but they speak nothing for the subjection of particular Churches to Classes and Synods, in re ⟨p. 128⟩propriâ, but rather intimate the contrary: For the Apostle, by comparing a Congregational-Church compleated with its Officers, unto the Body of a man intire in all its Members, sheweth, that as the Body of a man, being intire and sound, hath compleat power within it self, for all bodily actions; so a particular Church, being organized, and governed by Christ, the Head, from whom the whole Body fitly joyned and compacted together, by Joynts of supply, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love,