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

The Churches Charter. Containing Two Parts, 1. The Constitution of particular visible Churches. 2. The Privileges and Power given to such Churches.

The Churches Charter. Containing Two Parts, 1. The Constitution of particular visible Churches. 2. The Priviledges and Power given to such Churches.

Before I proceed to examine Mr. Paget's arguing for the Ecclesiastical Juridical Power of Classes, I shall positively declare what power is given by Christ to particular Churches, after I have described their constitution according to Christ his appointment. In every of which particulars I shall principally insist in the metaphor of a Corporation or body politic, such as that of the chiefest and most perfect Cities is: because I find, that it pleaseth the Holy Ghost in Scripture, frequently to express this matter under this similitude.^* But I shall not venture to apply it any further than the light of Truth in Scripture will ⟨p. 2⟩direct and warrant: There we find the grand Charter it self, and the ancient Presidents of the first Christian Churches planted by the Apostles. According to these Records I shall endeavour to declare the mind of Christ, whom God the Father commands us to hear,^* in all things whatsoever he saith unto us, and that under a dreadful penalty,^† Whence Cyprian doth well infer, If only Christ is to be heard, we ought not to attend what any before us thought should be done, but what Christ, who is before all, hath done, and appointed to be done. For we ought not to follow the custom of men, but the truth of God, seeing the Lord saith by the Prophet Isaiah, In vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. The Charter, according to which particular Churches are to be constituted, and their power, in re propriâ, is to be stated; we find in