NUMBER L.

Wednesday, December 28. 1720.

An Inquiry into Religious Establishments, with a further Confutation of the impious and abfurd Claims of High Priests.

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30 various and contradictory are the Opinions and Reafonings of Men, that no voluntary Society or Affembly can act, or long hold together, without eftablifhing certain Rules and Orders, amongst themfelves, regarding the common Interest and Conduct of the Society, and appointing Perfons whofe Duty it fhall be, to fee thofe Orders put in Execution; and if any Member does not think it lawful or expedieng to fubmit to the public Regulations, they must have a Right to exclude him, or in other Words, to excommunicate him from their Body, if he do not chufe to separate himself.

IF the Design of the Meeting be to worfhip God, to join in the fame Prayers, and for Exhortation and Edification, (which Affembly is called a Church) there must be Time and Place appointed when and where they are to meet, and Perfons to prepare and keep in Order all Things neceflary for their Meeting: There must be one, or more, appointed to read thofe Prayers to the Congregation; in which they are to join, and to do all thofe Offices, which can be performed only by fingle Perfons; and if the Society would avoid the Loquacity and Interruption of ignorant and conceited Members, they must confine Exhortation to one, or to a few Perfons of approved Gravity and Wisdom. There must be alfo fome Means of conferring and agreeing toge ther, to fupport the common Expences of Buildings, Repairs, Utenfils, &c. and confequently, there must be Debates, which cannot well be carried on without a Prefident, Chairman, or Prolocutor, to regulate them, collect their Voices, and pronounce their Refolutions; without which Precautions, they will be more likely to fight than pray.

IF feveral of thefe Churches, refiding at too great a Distance from one another to meet together, fhould efteem it their Duty or Ad

vantage

vantage to join in the fame Form of Worship, and unite in a common Interest to support it, they must find out fome Means of Communication, and contrive fome Cement of their Union, otherwise they would foon separate again: This may be done by chufing Deputies to represent them, and to concert common Measures, or by fubmitting themselves to the Conduct and Determinations of one or more Perfons, chofen by common Confent, in all fuch Matters as do not interfere with their Duty to God; and the Perfons so chosen can have no more Power, nor of longer Duration, than their Principals think fit to give them.

IF these Churches think it their Duty or Intereft to inlarge their Bottom, and make Converts, they cannot take a more effectual Method to do it, than to choose, appoint, or ordain, difcreet and honest Men, who are acquainted with their Way of Worship, their Ordinances, and the Reasons of them, and fend them forth to teach, perfuade, and convince others; to exhort them with Meekness and Love, (the likelieft Way to gain them) and afterwards to prefide and watch over them, and thereby prevent their Straying and Apoftatizing.

THIS was the Cafe in the Beginnings of Christianity, before National Churches were established, as well as the prefent Cafe of independent, voluntary Societies. The Apostles Commiffion was, to go into all the World, and preach Chrift to every Creature. This was impoffible for them to do in their own Perfons; and therefore as they made Converts, they exhorted them to convert others, as A&ts viii. v. 1, 4. When the Apostles were left at Jerufalem, the Church was scattered abroad through all Judea and Samaria, and those who were feattered abroad preached the World. Acts xi. v. 19, 20. They that were scattered abroad upon the Perfecution that arofe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phoenice and Cyprus, and preached the Word to none but the Jews only; and fome of them, when they were come to Antioch, Spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jefus Chrift. Chap. iv. v. 4. Peter and John converted Five thousand. And v. 31. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with Boldness.

AND they were all enabled to prove their Miffion, by having the Power of working Miracles; for Mark xvi. v. 17, 18. these Signs were to follow thofe who believed in Chrift's Name: They could caft out Devils, they

could

and Speak with new Tongues; they could take up Serpents; no deadly thing could hurt them; they could lay their Hands on the Sick, and recover them. John, Chap. xiv. v. 12. our Saviour fays to his Difciples, Whoever believeth in me, the Works that I do fhall be do, and greater than thefe fhall be do: Which Gifts would have been unneceffary, if they had been to have made no Ufe of them; and by virtue of thefe general Powers given to all Chriftians, Philip and Stephen, who were chofen by the Congregation to the menial Office of ferving Tables, preached, baptized, and did many Wonders and Miracles, Acts, Chap. vi. v. 8. Chap. viii. v. 7.

BUT befides the common Right which eve ry Man had to preach Chrift, and propagate his Kingdom, the Apoftle prevailed with particular Perfons to undertake it, and make it their Bu finefs, who were to affift and oversee the Brethren, as a Shepherd does his Sheep: Having the Gift of difcerning Spirits, they knew who were fitteft for the Employment, and who' would engage in it without any finifter Views; but it is plain, they gave no Gifts or Advantages to them above other Chriftians. They could not give the Holy Ghoft; which Power was confined to the Apostles alone, and as far