The doctrine of instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God

CHAP. III. Of the Nature of a Congregational Church.

AS a Civil Society doth consist of one Town, or more Towns, so an instituted Church is either Congregational, or that which consists of Divers Congregations.

A Congregational Church is a Church that is bound by the appointment of God to assemble together in one place in a constant way for the Celebration of his Public Worship; A Congregational Church, is a Church consisting of one Congregation: Such we read of, Act. 20.7. 1 Cor. 14.23. The form of a Congregational Church is, that they are bound by the appointment of God to assemble in one place in a constant way for the Celebration of his Public Worship. Some have thought that the form of a Congregational Church is a Church Covenant, explicit or implicit, wherein they bind themselves to walk together according to the order of the Gospel. It is thought that the Children of Israels Covenanting with God is a Foundation for this whereas that Covenant of theirs is no other, then what all Christians do make, when they make a profession of Faith and Obedience; we never read of any party lar Covenant made in the Synagogues, which Answer to our Congregations, whereby the Members of one Synagogue were bound one to another: It is pleaded that nothing else can bind a•e People one to another but an Ecclesiastical Covenant; but there […] somewhat else that binds a free People in the same Town to mutual subjection, to the Government of the Town; and tho Christians are a free People, yet they have not a Licentious Liberty but are bound ⟨p. 8⟩by God, and likewise by their own profession to the Rule of the Gospel: Neither is there any necessity of such a bond to distinguish one Church from another, and to avoid confusion of Churches, we read of no such particular Covenant in the New Testament, we have no precept for it, we have no president for it; we read of many Congregational Churches, but there is no Syllable in the Word of God, intimating any such thing, neither is there any need of it.