§. X.
The pretended Succession of Papists and Protestants explained.But against this vain Succession, as asserted either by the Papists or Protestants as a necessary Thing to the Call of a Minister, I answer; That such as plead for it, as a sufficient or necessary Thing to the Call of a Minister, do thereby sufficiently declare their Ignorance of the Nature of Christianity, and how much they are Strangers to the Life and Power of a Christian Ministry, which is not entailed to Succession, as an outward Inheritance; and herein, as hath been often before observed, they not only make the Gospel not better than the Law, but even far short of it. For Jesus Christ, as he regardeth not any distinct particular Family or Nation in the gathering of his Children; but only such as are joined to and leavened with his own pure and righteous Seed, so neither regards he a bare outward Succession, where his pure, immaculate, and righteous Life is wanting; for that were all one. He took not the Nations into the New Covenant, that he might suffer them to fall into the old Errors of the Jews, or to approve them in their Errors, but that he might gather unto himself a pure People out of the Earth. Now this was the great Error of the Jews, to think they were the Church and People of God, because they could derive their outward Succession from Abraham; The Jews Error of Abraham’s outward Succession.whereby they reckoned themselves the Children of God, as being the Offspring of Abraham, who was the Father of the Faithful. But how severely doth the Scripture rebuke this vain and frivolous Pretence? Telling them, That God is able of the Stones to raise Children unto Abraham; and that not the outward Seed, but those that were found in the Faith of Abraham, are the true Children of faithful Abraham. Far less then can this Pretence hold among Christians, seeing Christ rejects all outward Affinity of that Kind: [84]These, saith he, are my Mother, Brethren and Sisters, who do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven: And again; He looked round about him, and said, Who shall do the Will of God, these, saith he, are my Brethren. So then, such as do not the Commands of Christ, are not found clothed with his Righteousness, are not his Disciples; and that which a Man hath not, he cannot give to another: And it is clear, that no Man nor Church, though truly called of God, and as such having the Authority of a Church and Minister, can any longer retain that Authority, than they retain the Power, Life, and Righteousness of Christianity; for the Form is entailed to the Power and Substance, and not the Substance to the Form. The Form of Godliness is entailed to the Power and Substance, and not the Substance to the Form.So that when a Man ceaseth inwardly in his Heart to be a Christian (where his Christianity must lie) by turning to Satan, and becoming a Reprobate, he is no more a Christian, though he retain the Name and Form, than a dead Man is a Man, though he hath the Image and Representation of one, or than the Picture or Statue of a Man is a Man: And though a dead Man may serve to a Painter to retain some imperfect Representation of the Man, that once was alive, and so one Picture may serve to make another by, yet none of those can serve to make a true living Man again, neither can they convey the Life and Spirit of the Man; it must be God, that made the Man at first, that alone can revive him. Succession interrupted.As Death then makes such Interruption of an outward natural Succession, that no Art nor outward Form can uphold, and as a dead Man, after he is dead, can have no Issue, neither can dead Images of Men make living Men: So that it is the Living that are only capable to succeed one another; and such as die, so soon as they die cease to succeed, or to transmit Succession. So it is in spiritual Things; it is the Life of Christianity, taking Place in the Heart, that makes a Christian; The Living Members make the Church: Life lost, the Church is ceased.and so it is a Number of such, being alive, joined together in the Life of Christianity, that make a Church of Christ; and it is all those that are thus alive and quickened, considered together, that make the Catholick Church of Christ: Therefore when this Life ceaseth in one, then that one ceaseth to be a Christian; and all Power, Virtue, and Authority, which he had as a Christian, ceaseth with it; so that if he hath been a Minister or Teacher, he ceaseth to be so any more: And though he retain the Form, and hold to the Authority in Words, yet that signifies no more, nor is it of any more real Virtue and Authority, than the mere Image of a dead Man. Judas fell from his Ministry by Transgression.And as this is most agreeable to Reason, so it is to the Scripture’s Testimony; for it is said of Judas, Acts i. 25. That Judas fell from his Ministry and Apostleship by Transgression; so his Transgression caused him to cease to be an Apostle any more: Whereas, had the Apostleship been entailed to his Person, so that Transgression could not cause him to lose it, until he had been formally degraded by the Church (which Judas never was so long as he lived) Judas had been as really an Apostle, after he betrayed Christ, as before. And as it is of one, so of many, yea, of a whole Church: For seeing nothing makes a Man truly a Christian, but the Life of Christianity inwardly ruling in his Heart; so nothing makes a Church, but the gathering of several true Christians into one Body. Now where all these Members lose this Life, there the Church ceaseth to be, though they still uphold the Form, and retain the Name: For when that which made them a Church, and for which they were a Church, ceaseth, then they cease also to be a Church: And therefore the Spirit, speaking to the Church of Laodicea, because of her Lukewarmness, Rev. iii. 16. threateneth to spue her out of his Mouth. The Lukewarmness of the Church of Laodicea.Now, suppose the Church of Laodicea had continued in that Lukewarmness, and had come under that Condemnation and Judgment, though she had retained the Name and Form of a Church, and had had her Pastors and Ministers, as no Doubt she had at that Time, yet surely she had been no true Church of Christ, nor had the Authority of her Pastors and Teachers been to be regarded, because of an outward Succession, though perhaps some of them had it immediately from the Apostles. From all which I infer, That since the Authority of the Christian Church and her Pastors is always united, and never separated from the inward Power, Virtue, and righteous Life of Christianity; where this ceaseth, that ceaseth also. But our Adversaries acknowledge, That many, if not most of those, by and through whom they derive this Authority, were altogether destitute of this Life and Virtue of Christianity: Therefore they could neither receive, have, nor transmit any Christian Authority.
[84] Mat. 12. 48. &c. Mark 3. 33. &c.
Object.But if it be objected, That though the Generality of the Bishops and Priests of the Church of Rome, during the Apostasy, were such wicked Men; yet Protestants affirm, and thou thyself seemest to acknowledge, that there were some good Men among them, whom the Lord regarded, and who were true Members of the Catholick Church of Christ; might not they then have transmitted this Authority?
Answ.The Protestants plead for a Succession inherent. I answer, This saith nothing; in respect Protestants do not at all lay Claim to their Ministry, as transmitted to them by a direct Line of good Men; which they can never shew, nor yet pretend to: But generally place this Succession as inherent in the whole Pastors of the Apostate Church. Neither do they plead their Call to be good and valid, because they can derive it through a Line of good Men, separate and observably distinguishable from the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of the Romish Church; but they derive it as an Authority residing in the Whole: For they think it Heresy, to judge that the Quality or Condition of the Administrator doth any Ways invalidate or prejudice his Work.
This vain and pretended Succession not only militates against, and fights with the very manifest Purpose and Intent of Christ in the gathering and calling of his Church, but makes him (so to speak) more blind and less prudent than natural Men are in conveying and establishing their outward Inheritances. An Estate void of Heirship devolves to the Prince, none claims it, but whom he sees meet to give it: So the Heirship of Life is enjoyed from Christ, the true Heir.For where an Estate is entailed to a certain Name and Family, when that Family weareth out, and there is no lawful Successor found of it, that can make a just Title appear, as being really of Blood and Affinity to the Family; it is not lawful for any one of another Race or Blood, because he assumes the Name or Arms of that Family, to possess the Estate, and claim the Superiorities and Privileges of the Family: But by the Law of Nations the Inheritance devolves into the Prince, as being Ultimus Hæres; and so he giveth it again immediately to whom he sees meet, and makes them bear the Name and Arms of the Family, who then are entitled to the Privileges and Revenues thereof. So in like Manner, the true Name and Title of a Christian, by which he hath Right to the heavenly Inheritance, and is a Member of Jesus Christ, is inward Righteousness and Holiness, and the Mind redeemed from the Vanities, Lusts, and Iniquities of this World; and a Gathering or Company, made up of such Members, makes a Church. Where this is lost, the Title is lost; and so the true Seed, to which the Promise is, and to which the Inheritance is due, becomes extinguished in them, and they become dead as to it: And so it retires, and devolves itself again into Christ, who is the righteous Heir of Life; and he gives the Title and true Right again immediately to whom it pleaseth him, even to as many as being turned to his pure Light in their Consciences, come again to walk in his righteous and innocent Life, and so become true Members of his Body, which is the Church. So the Authority, Power and Heirship are not annexed to Persons, as they bear the mere Names, or retain a Form, holding the bare Shell or Shadow of Christianity; but the Promise is to Christ, and to the Seed, in whom the Authority is inherent, and in as many as are one with him, and united unto him by Purity and Holiness, and by the inward Renovation and Regeneration of their Minds.
Moreover, this pretended Succession is contrary to Scripture Definitions, and the Nature of the Church of Christ, and of the true Members. I. The House of God is no polluted Nest; no Atheist nor Pretender can rest there.For, First, The Church is the House of God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, 1 Tim. iii. 15. But according to this Doctrine, the House of God is a polluted Nest of all Sort of Wickedness and Abominations, made up of the most ugly, defiled, and perverse Stones that are in the Earth; where the Devil rules in all Manner of Unrighteousness. For so our Adversaries confess, and History informs, the Church of Rome to have been, as some of their Historians acknowledge; and if that be truly the House of God, what may we call the House of Satan? Or may we call it therefore the House of God, notwithstanding all this Impiety, because they had a bare Form, and that vitiated many Ways also; and because they pretended to the Name of Christianity, though they were Antichristian, Devilish, and Atheistical in their whole Practice and Spirit, and also in many of their Principles? Would not this infer yet a greater Absurdity, as if they had been something to be accounted of, because of their Hypocrisy and Deceit, and false Pretences? Whereas the Scripture looks upon that as an Aggravation of Guilt, and calls it Blasphemy, Rev. ii. 9. Of two wicked Men, he is most to be abhorred, who covereth his Wickedness with a vain Pretence of God and Righteousness: Even so these abominable Beasts, and fearful Monsters, who looked upon themselves to be Bishops in the Apostate Church, were never a Whit the better, that they falsely pretended to be the Successors of the holy Apostles; unless to lie be commendable, and that Hypocrisy be the Way to Heaven. Yea, were not this to fall into that Evil condemned among the Jews, Jer. vii. 4. Trust ye not in lying Words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are these; throughly amend your Ways, &c. as if such outward Names and Things were the Thing the Lord regarded, and not inward Holiness? Or can that then be the Pillar and Ground of Truth, which is the very Sink and Pit of Wickedness, from which so much Error, Superstition, Idolatry, and all Abomination spring? Can there be any Thing more contrary both to Scripture and Reason?
II. Christ is the Head, his Body undefiled. Secondly, The Church is defined to be the Kingdom of the dear Son of God, into which the Saints are translated, being delivered from the Power of Darkness. It is called the Body of Christ, which from him by Joints and Bands having Nourishment ministered and knit together, increaseth with the Increase of God, Col. ii. 19. But can such Members, such a Gathering as we have demonstrated that Church and Members to be, among whom they allege their pretended Authority to have been preserved, and through which they derive their Call; can such, I say, be the Body of Christ, or Members thereof? Or is Christ the Head of such a corrupt, dead, dark, abominable stinking Carcase? If so, then might we not as well affirm against the Apostle, 2 Cor. vi. 14. What Fellowship hath Christ with Belial?That Righteousness hath Fellowship with Unrighteousness, that Light hath Communion with Darkness, that Christ hath Concord with Belial, that a Believer hath Part with an Infidel, and that the Temple of God hath Agreement with Idols? Moreover no Man is called the Temple of God, nor of the Holy Ghost, but as his Vessel is purified, and so be fitted and prepared for God to dwell in; and many thus fitted by Christ become his Body, in and among whom he dwells and walks, according as it is written, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my People. It is therefore that we may become the Temple of Christ and People of God, that the Apostle in the following Verse exhorts, saying out of the Prophet, [85]Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean Thing, and I will receive you; and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. But to what Purpose is all this Exhortation? And why should we separate from the Unclean, if a mere outward Profession and Name be enough to make the true Church; and if the Unclean and Polluted were both the Church and lawful Successors of the Apostles, inheriting their Authority, and transmitting it to others? Yea, how can the Church be the Kingdom of the Son of God, as contra-distinguished from the Kingdom and Power of Darkness? And what Need, yea, what Possibility of being translated out of the one into the other, if those that make up the Kingdom and Power of Darkness be real Members of the true Church of Christ; and not simply Members only, but the very Pastors and Teachers of it? But how do they increase in the Increase of God, and receive spiritual Nourishment from Christ the Head, that are Enemies of him in their Hearts by wicked Works, and openly go into Perdition? Priests frivolous Distinction of Enemies to God by Practice, and Members of his Church by Office.Verily as no metaphysical and nice Distinctions, that though they were practically as to their own private States Enemies to God and Christ, and so Servants of Satan; yet they were, by Virtue of their Office, Members and Ministers of the Church, and so able to transmit the Succession; I say, as such invented and frivolous Distinctions will not please the Lord God, neither will he be deluded by such, nor make up the glorious Body of his Church with such mere outside hypocritical Shews, nor be beholden to such painted Sepulchres to be Members of his Body, which is found, pure, and undefiled, and therefore he needs not such false and corrupt Members to make up the Defects of it; so neither will such Distinctions satisfy truly tender and Christian Consciences; especially considering the Apostle is so far from desiring us to regard this, that we are expresly commanded to turn away from such as have a Form of Godliness, but deny the Power of it. For we may well object against these, as the poor Man did against the proud Prelate, that went about to cover his vain and unchristian-like Sumptuousness, by distinguishing that it was not as Bishop but as Prince he had all that Splendor. The Answer of a poor Rustick to a proud Prelate.To which the poor Rustic wisely is said to have answered, When the Prince goeth to Hell, what shall become of the Prelate? And indeed this were to suppose the Body of Christ to be defective, and that to fill up these defective Places, he puts counterfeit and dead Stuff instead of real living Members; like such as lose their Eyes, Arms, or Legs, who make counterfeit ones of Wood or Glass instead of them. But we cannot think so of Christ, neither can we believe, for the Reasons above adduced, that either we are to account, or that Christ doth account, any Man or Men a Whit the more Members of his Body, because though they be really wicked, they hypocritically and deceitfully clothe themselves with his Name, and pretend to it; for this is contrary to his own Doctrine, where he saith expresly, John xv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, &c. That he is the Vine, and his Disciples are the Branches; that except they abide in him, they cannot bear Fruit; and if they be unfruitful, they shall be cast forth as a Branch, and wither. A withered Branch can draw no Nourishment, so has no Life nor Virtue.Now I suppose these cut and withered Branches are no more true Branches nor Members of the Vine; they can no more draw Sap nor Nourishment from it, after that they are cut off, and so have no more Virtue, Sap, nor Life: What have they then to boast or glory of any Authority, seeing they want that Life, Virtue, and Nourishment from which all Authority comes? So such Members of Christ as are become dead to him through Unrighteousness, and so derive no more Virtue nor Life from him, are cut off by their Sins, and wither, and have no longer any true or real Authority, and their boasting of any is but an Aggravation of their Iniquity by Hypocrisy and Deceit. But further, would not this make Christ’s Body a mere Shadow and Phantasm? Yea, would it not make him the Head of a lifeless, rotten, stinking Carcase, having only some little outward false Shew, while inwardly full of Rottenness and Dirt? A living Head upon a lifeless Body, what a Monster would that be?And what a Monster would these Men make of Christ’s Body, by assigning it a real, pure, living, quick Head, full of Virtue and Life, and yet tied to such a dead lifeless Body as we have already described these Members to be, which they allege to have been the Church of Christ? Again, the Members of the Church of Christ are specified by this Definition, to wit, as being the sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. i. 2. But this Notion of Succession supposeth not only some unsanctified Members to be of the Church of Christ, but even the Whole to consist of unsanctified Members; yea, that such as were professed Necromancers and open Servants of Satan were the true Successors of the Apostles, and in whom the Apostolick Authority resided, these being the Vessels through whom this Succession is transmitted; though many of them, as all Protestants and also some Papists confess, attained these Offices in the (so called) Church not only by such Means as Simon Magus sought it, but by much worse, even by Witchcraft, Traditions, Money, Treachery, and Murder, which Platina himself confesseth[86] of divers Bishops of Rome.
[85] 2 Cor. 6. 17, 18.
[86] In the Life of Benedict 4. of John 16. of Sylvester 3. of Boniface 8. of Steph. 6. of Joan 8. Also Onuphrius’s Annotations upon this Papess (or Popess) towards the End.