THE APPENDIX, Wherein the same Sentiments of Jest I.ibèrtj are confirmed by a Vier of the Origin of a Christian Church. I. THE foregoing discourse was begun by tracing out the origin of civil government, and thence inferring the several rights and powers of it, and enquiring how far they would reach in any ofthe affairs of a religious society, and particularly of a christian church. Let us now take a short survey of the origin of christian churches and enquire whether the setting things in this view will afford any different lights or inferences concerning the power of civil magistrates in things sacred. II. When the christian religion was first planted, almost all the states, kingdoms and governments of this world were heathens,: Even Palestine itself had heathen governors. The blessed apostles travelling amongst the nations, and preaching the gospel wheresoever they could find opportunity, converted multitudes of single persons to the christian faith ; these united themselves er little societies by agreement, to assemble together at certain seasons, and worship God by the apostles' directions through Jesus Christ. III. In some of those same cities wherein christianity was preached, therewere or might be also several other societies of men under the same civil government, united together by peculiar agreemen's among themselves for different purposes, but all subject to the rulers of the state in matters of civil government. Let us now suppose for instance, in the city of Corinth there might be a " college of philosophers, a society of painters or anti- quaries, a synagogue of Jews, an assembly of deists, and a church of christians." IV. Each of these being voluntary societies, they have complete liberty and power to chuce their own presidents, teachers, and other officers out of their own body, as they stood in need of them, in order to regulate the affairs of their society : And they themselves contrive and agree upon rules and laws for the government of their own society, viz. upon what terms persons shall beadmitted as members, for what reasons they shall be suspended for a season, or east out utterly ; what times, and placeS they shall meet in, what forms or ceremonies they shall use in any ht their practices, what sum of money, or what utensils, or what goods, or support, or what proportionof these things each Member shall furnish or supply toward the general design of the society, and what shall be the business of every member. These things, I say, most be agreed by the members of the society, but all in a constant consistence with'the civil laws of the state, and the civil rights and liberties of every subject of it. Note, Wheresoever their original thunder bath left them certain rules and directions, it is supposed they all consent to submit to them. V. Now to apply all this to christianity. The chief and most important things in the christian society were appointed by Christ andhis apostles, their first thunders, as praying, preaching the gospel, singing, baptism,the Lord's- supper, &c. Other circumstances which were not appointed by the apostles, and which yet were necessary to be determined some oneway, thesewere pro- bably andnaturally left. to be deteruniued by the common consent and agree- ment of the church, for their mutual conveniency and gengeral edification ; such as the hour of their worship, the place of their meeting, &c. As for other circumstances which were not, necessary to be determined one way,
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