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

This title of Church, though it be given ⟨p. 52⟩some times to a civil Assembly, Act. 19.41. yet so it is not taken in this place. For Christ no where calleth a civil Assembly, his Church. Therefore it must signify an holy Society. And in that sense, the Scripture applieth this title sundry ways. 1. To Godly Families, Rom. 16.5. Col. 4.15. Phil. 2. where the Church, in such an house, is distinguished from the Congregational Church. For Paul writeth to the Congregational Assembly to salute Aquila and Priscilla, and the Church in their house. Their house, it seemeth, consisted (all) of Godly persons, in Pauls judgement; else, he would have said, Salute them of such an house, who are in the Lord: and it was an exemplary Family, and a seminary of the Church, yet not such a Church as was capable of all Church Officers, and power, as this, meant in the text, hath by the gift of Christ. 2. Sometimes it signifieth the Catholic visible Church, Heb, 12.23. but that hath been from the beginning, and doth not, nor can meet in one place, on earth to worship God. Therefore it is not meant here. 3. Most commonly, it signifieth a Congregational Church, or, an holy Society joined together by an holy Covenant, in one Congregation, to walk together ⟨p. 53⟩according to all the Ordinances and Laws given by Christ to his Church. And so sometimes it signifieth a definite particular Congregation, meeting together in one place, for the public worship of God, and their mutual edification: as that at Corinth, 1 Cor. 11.18, 20. and 14.23. And in that acceptation, it notes, sometimes the Brethren, as distinguished from the Elders; Act. 15.22. Sometimes the Elders and Brethren assembled together, as in