The judgment of several eminent divines of the congregational way concerning a pastors power…The judgment of several eminent divines of the congregational vvay concerning a pastors power…

Mr. Thomas Shepard, the first Pastor of the Church at Cambridge in New England, and Mr. John Allyn, Pastor of the Church at Dedham, in their defence of the Nine Positions (Printed in the Year 1648) in answer to Mr. Ball acknowledge that though a Minister has not such power in another Church, as he has over them, that are his proper Flock▪ nevertheless that he may charitatively ⟨p. 11⟩put forth an Act of his Office to those in another Church of whom he is no Officer. Pag. 132. 133. and again 134. in Answer to that Question Whether a Minister may Administer the Seals in another Congregation? Their words are; We will not deny but that occasionally being called thereunto by the desire of the Church, he may Lawfully do the same. This was the Judgment of Mr. Shepard of Cambridge and Mr. Allyn of Dedham, both of them famous in New-England.

Dr. Tho. Goodwin has truly stated and asserted the Congregational way, as it differs from Presbyterianism and Brownism. Now that that great Divine was for the Affirmative in the Question under Controversy, is well known, and in a Letter of his to a Minister at Boston in New-England, Dated March 25th. 1679. (which was not long before he was Translated to Glory) His words are these; A Church beginning to become a Church may have Liberty while without Elders to receive in or cast out, as occasion is, yet I do advise that they should hasten to Choose Elders to those Ends, or if they do not, that they may take the Elders of another Church, whom they confide in, and Electively Choose for that purpose, they may make use of them, he or they having Power conferred on them for that Act by the Brethren. This being my private Opinion that an Elder, one set apart for that Office in any Church is truly a Minister ⟨p. 12⟩occasionally to Exercise Ministerial Acts, as he is called thereunto; and this though it seems to warrant a constant Presbytery over other Churches, yet is clear a different thing; for such a Presbytery is of a settled ordinary course, and will challenge the Power; not so here in this Case, it being Elective, and the power of choosing whom and where arbitrarily remaining in the Church as they shall judge Ita sentio, ita sensi: and so I have practised in ordaining those worthy Ministers, Mr. George Griffith, and Mr. Lee to their Churches, being by them called thereunto; and thus our Elders do practise to this day. Every true Minister actually such to his own Church is medium applicabile a Means and Instrument that may apply to any Ministerial Act out of his own Church in any other Church if he be called thereunto by them. Thus Dr. Goodwin, a man never to be mentioned without Respect and Honour. By these things we see what has been the Judgment of the most Eminent Ministers of Christ amongst those that are called Congregational men. What the Sentiments of those named Presbyterians have been, is needless to mention. Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ, in that there is cause to hope that those Names of distinction are now at an end; since at London, and through out England they are become United Brethren.