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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55001	A Platform of church discipline gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the elders, and messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England, to be presented to the churches and Generall Court for their consideration and acceptance in the Lord, the eighth moneth, anno 1649.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1649 (1649)	Wing P2396; ESTC W2574	37,140	44

to thē the right hand of fellowship both in their gathering into a church in the ordination of their officers CHAP XVI Of Synods SYnods orderly assembled rightly proceeding according to the pattern Acts. 15. wee acknowledg as the ordinance of Christ though not absolutely necessary to the being yet many times through the iniquity of men perversness of times necessary to the wel-being of churches for the establishment of truth peace therin 2 Synods being spirituall ecclesiasticall assemblyes are therfore made up of spirituall ecclesiasticall causes The next efficient cause of them under Christ is the powr of the churches sending forth their Elders other messengers who being mett together in the name of Christ are the matter of the Synod they in argueing debating determining matters of religion according to the word publishing the same to the churches whom it concerneth doe put forth the proper formall acts of a Synod to the convictiō of errours heresyes the establishment of truth peace in the Churches which is the end of a Synod 3 Magistrates have powr to call a Synod by calling to the Churches to send f●…rth their Elders other messengers to counsel assist them in matters of rel●… 〈◊〉 ●…t ye●…t the constituting of a Synod is a church act may be t●…d by the churches even when civil magistrates may be enemyes to churches to churchassemblyes 4 It bel●…ngeth unto Synod counsel●… to debate determine controversies of faith ca●… of cons●… to cleare from the word holy directions for the ●…ly worsh●…p of God good government of the church to beare wit●… against ●…al administration Corruption in doctrine or man̄ers in any particular Church to give directions for the reformation therof Not to exercise Church-censures in way of discipline nor any other act of church-authority or jurisdiction which that presidentiall Synod did forbeare 5 The Synod●… directions determinations so farr as consonant to the word of God are to be received with reverence submission not only for their agreement therwith which is the ●…ncipall ground therof without which they bind not at all ●…t also second●…ly for the powr wherby they are made as being an ordinance of God appointed therunto in his word 6 B●… is d●…ficult if not impossible for many churches to c●… altogether in one place ●…n all their●…●…rs universally therfore they may assemble by their delegates o●… messengers as the church of Antioch went not all to Ierusalem but some select men for that purpose Because none are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be more fitt to know the state of the churches not to advise of wayes for the good thereof then Elders therfore it is fitt that in the choice of the messengers for such assemblies they have special respect ūto such Yet in as much as not only Paul Barnabas but certayn others also were sent to Ierusalem from Antioch Acts 15. when they were come to Ierusalem not only the Apostles Elders but other brethren also doe assemble meet about the matter therfore Synods are to consist both of Elders other church-members endued with gifts sent by the churches not excluding the presence of any brethren in the churches CHAP XVII Of the Civil Magistrates powr in matters E●…c●…es●…l IT is lawfull profitable necessary for christians to gather themselves into Church estate therin to exercise all the ord●… of chr●…st according unto the word although the consent of Magistrate could not be had therunto because the Apostles christ●…ans in their time did frequently thus practise when the Magistrates being all of them Jewish or pagan mostly persecuting enemies would give no countenance or consent to such matters 2 Church-government stands in no opposition to civil gove●…ment of cōmon-welths nor any intrencheth upon the authority of Civil Magistrates in their jurisdictions nor any whit weakneth their hand●… in governing but rather strengthneth them farthereth the people in yielding more hearty consc●…onable obedience ūt●… the●… whatsoever some ill affected persons to the wayes of Christ have suggested to alienate the affections of Kings Princes from the ordinance of Christ as if the kingdome of Christ in his church could not rise stand without the falling weakning of their government which is al●…o of Christ wheras the contrary is most true that they may both stand together flourish the one being helpfull unto the other in their distinct d●… administrations 3 The powr authority of Magistrates is not for the restra●…ing of churches or any other good workes but for helping in furthering therof therfore the consent countenance of Magistrates when it may be had is not to be ●…ghted or lightly esteemed but on the contrary it is part of that hon●…ur due to christian Magistrates to desire crave their consent approbation therin which being obtayned the churches may then proceed in their way with much more encouragement comfort 4 It is not in the powr of Magistrates to compell their s●…bjects to become church-members to partake at the Lords table for the priests are reproved that brought ●…worthy ones into the ●…tuarie then as it was unlawfull for the preists so it is as unlawfull to be done by civil Magistrates Those whom the church is to cast out if they were in the Magistrate ought not thrust into the church nor to hold them therin 5 As it is unlawfull for church-officers to meddle with the sword of the Magistrate s●… 〈◊〉 it ●…wfull for the Magistrate to meddle with the work p●…per to c●…ch officers the Acts of Mo●… Dav●…d who were not only P●… but P●… were ex●… therfore not ●…ble Ag●…●…n 〈◊〉 the L●…d wit●… by 〈◊〉 Uzz●…h w●… 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 to offer 〈◊〉 6 It is the duty of the Ma●… to take ●…e of matters of rel●…gion to ●…nprove his ●…l autho●…ty for the oble●…ing of the duties commanded in the first is well as for observing of the duties commanded in the second table They are called Gods The end of the Magistrate●… office is not only the q●… p●…ble l●…fe of the subj●…t in 〈◊〉 of rig●… ho●…ty but also in matter of ●…ss yea of all 〈◊〉 M●… j●… D●… S●… Asa Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Josiah are much commended by the Holy Ghost for the putting forth their authority in matters of religion on the contrary such Kings as have been fayling this way are frequently taxed reproved by the Lord not only the Kings of Judah but also Job Nehe●…h the king of Nin●…veh Darius Artaxerxes Nebucad●…ezar whom none looked at as types of Christ thouh were it soe there were no place for any just objection are cōmēded in the book of God for exercising their authority this way 7 The object of the powr of the Magistrate

as li●…le 〈◊〉 As 1 That by admitting none into the fellowship of our Church but saints by c●…lling wee 〈◊〉 p●…sh-churches of th●… b●…st 〈◊〉 to make up one of o●…r cong●…gations which is not o●…ly to gather churches o●…t of churches a th●…ng 〈◊〉 ●…f ●…n Sc●…pture but also to weaken the hearts hands of the best Minist●…rs ●…n th●… par●…shes by d●…spoyling them of th●…●…st ●…earers 2 That wee provide no course for the gayning 〈◊〉 in of ignorant erronious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom wee 〈◊〉 to receive into our churches so exclude from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 3 That in our way wee sow seed●… of division h●…ndrance of edificat●…ō in every f●…ly whilst admitting into our churches only voluntar●…es the husbād w●…ll be ●…f on●… church the wife of another the parent of one church the children of 〈◊〉 the ma●…ster of one ch●…rch the servant of another And so the parent ma●…sters being of d●…fferent churches from their child●…n servants t●…ey cannot take a j●…st ●…ccount of their profiting by what they heare yea by this 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 parents ma●…sters shall be chargable to t●…e 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 other churc●…es church-officer●… besides their own which will prove a charge b●…rden unsuppo●…ble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as to 〈◊〉 Fo●… 〈◊〉 churches out of churches wee cannot s●…y t●… it is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The ●…st 〈◊〉 church was 〈◊〉 out ●…f the Iew●…sh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…f 〈◊〉 part●…y of 〈◊〉 Ga●…leans who though t●…y k●…pt some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parts of pu●…k 〈◊〉 wi●…h the T●…ple yet 〈◊〉 th●… 〈◊〉 th●…y frequen●… th●… 〈◊〉 no●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 causes b●…t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Apostles c●…ch ●…ll ●…he ord●…nances of the gos●… And for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 church of the 〈◊〉 at Antoch it appe●…reth 〈◊〉 ●…ve ●…een g●…hered 〈◊〉 partly of the ●…sed b●…hren of the 〈◊〉 at Ierus●…lem whe●…of so●… were men of Cyprus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts ●…1 20 21. If it be sa●…d the fi●…st christ●…an church at Ierus●…lem that at Antioch were gathered not out of any ch●…stian church but out of the Jewish 〈◊〉 and Synagogues which were shortly aft●…r to be abolished their gathering to Ant●…och was upon occasion of dispersion in time of persecution Wee d●…sire it may be considered I That the members of the Iewish Church were more strongly and st●…tly tyed by express holy covenant to keep fellowsh●…p with the Iewish church t●…ll it was abol shed then any members of christian parish-churches are wont to be tyed to keep fellowsh●…p with their par●…sh-churches The Episcopall Canon●… which bind them to attend on th●…er parish church it is likely they a●…e now abolished with the Episcopa●…y The common Law ●…f the Land is satisfy a as wee concive if they attend upon the worship of God in any other church though not 〈◊〉 their own parish But no such like covenant of God nor any other religious 〈◊〉 upon them to attend the worship of God in their own par●…sh church as did lye up●…n the Iewes to attend upon the wo●…ship of God in their Temple and Synagogue 2 T●…ugh the Iew●…sh Temple Church at Ierus●…em was to be abolis●… vet that doeth not make the desertion of it by the members to be lawfull ●…ll 〈◊〉 was al●…o she●… Future abolition is now errant for present dese●…o unless it be lawfull ●…n some case 〈◊〉 the chu●…chis yet in present sta●…ding to 〈◊〉 to witt either for avoyding of present polutions or for hope of greater 〈◊〉 and so f●…r better 〈◊〉 to conscience in either future events 〈◊〉 for●… of 〈◊〉 to not ●…olve present relat●…on Else wives children servants might desert 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pa●…ents ●…asters when they be mortally sick 3 What the members of the Iewish ch●…ch did 〈◊〉 to the church a●… Antioch in time of persecution it may w●…ll be con●…ved ●…e 〈◊〉 of any christ an church may d●… the lik for satisfaction of con●… Pe●…ce of 〈◊〉 is m●…re 〈◊〉 then the pe●…ce of the outwa●…d 〈◊〉 ●…nd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of cons●…ēce is m●…re 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a sincere hea●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 If it be s●…d these members of the Christ an Ch●…ch at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that joyned to the church at Antioch removed their 〈◊〉 together with th●…r relations which ●…f the brethren of the 〈◊〉 way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it w●…ll much abate the grievance of their depart●… from their presbyter all churche●… Wee verily could w●…sh them ●…o to a●… as ●…ll approv●…ng the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…bitation ●…n case of ch●…ging church-relation●… 〈◊〉 that it may be done wi●…hout too much ●…riment to their outward estate ●…nd w●… for our pa●…tes have done t●…e same But to put a necessi●…y of removall of habi●…●…n in such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to fo●…nt and cherish a corrupt principle of making civ●…l ●…ation if ●…ot a 〈◊〉 cause yet at least a proper adiunct of church-relation which the truth of the Gospel do●…h no●… ackno●…ledg Now to 〈◊〉 an errour to the prejudice of the tr●…th of the Gospell is no●… to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the truth of the G●…pel as Paul 〈◊〉 Galat. 2. 14. 4 Wee do not think it meet or safe for a me●…ber of a presbyteriall Church fo●… with to desert his relation to his Church betake himself to the fellowship of a 〈◊〉 Church though he may d●…scern some def●…ct in the estate or government of his owne For 1 Faithfullness of brotherly love in Church-relation requireth that the members of the Church sh●…ld first convince their brethren of their sinfull defects duely wait for their reformation bef●…re they depart from them For if wee must take such a course for the healing of a private brother in a way of brotherly love with much ●…eekness patience how more more ought wee so to walk with like tendrness towards a whole church Again 2 By the hasty departure of ●…ound members from a defective church refo●…mation is not promoted but many times retarded corruption increased Wheras ●…n the contrary while sincere members breathing after purity of reformation abide together they may by the blessing of God upon their faithfull endeavours preva●…le much with their Elders neighbours towards a reformation ●…t may be so 〈◊〉 as that their Elders in their own church shall receive none to the Lord table ●…ut visible saints in the Classis shall put forth no authoritive ●…ct but c●…tive only touching the members of other churches nor touching their own but 〈◊〉 the consent silēt consent at least of their own church which two things 〈◊〉 t●…ey can ●…bteyn with any humble meek holy faithfull endeavours wee 〈◊〉 they might by the grace of Christ find liberty ●…f consc●…ce to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 relation with their own pre●…byteriall church w●…hout scru●…le 5 ●…t to add a word farthe●… 〈◊〉 the gathering of C●…urches out of Ch●…rches what ●…f the●…e we●…e ●…o express examp●…●…f such a

order government in-lets of disturbance tend to confusion 9 It belongs also unto the Elders to examine any officers or members before they be received of the church to receive the accusations brought to the Church to prepare them for the churches hearing In handling of offences other matters before the Church they have powr to declare publish the Counsell will of God touching the same to pronounce sentence with consent of the Church Lastly they have powr when they dismiss the people to bless them in the name of the Lord 10 This powr of Government in the Elders doth not any wise prejudice the powr of priviledg in the brotherhood as neither the powr of priviledg in the brethren doth prejudice the power of government in the Elders but they may sweetly agree together as wee may see in the example of the Apostles furnished with the greatest church-powr who took in the concurrence consent of the brethren in church-administrations Also that Scripture 2 Cor 2. 9. chap 10 6. doe declare that what the churches were to act doe in these matters they were to doe in a way of obedience that not only to the direction of the Apostles but also of their ordinary Elders 11 From the premisses namely that the ordinary powr of Government belonging only to the elders powr of priviledg remaineth with the brotherhood as powr of judgment in masters of censure powr of liberty in matters of liberty It followeth that in an organick Church right administration all church acts proceed after the manner of a mixt administration so as no church act can be consummated or perfected without the consent of both CHAP XI Of the maintenance of Church Officers THe Apostle concludes that necessary sufficient maintenance is due unto the ministers of the word from the law of nature nations from the law of Moses the equity thereof as also the rule of common reason moreover the scripture doth not only call Elders labourers workmen but also speaking o●… them doth say that the labourer is worthy of his hire requires that he which is taught in the word should communicate to him in all good things mentions it as an ordinance of the Lord that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel forbideth the muzl●…ng of the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn 2 The Scriptures alledged requiring this maintenance as a bounden duty du●…●…eci not as a matter of almes free gift therefore people are not at liberty to doe or not to doe what when they pleas in this matter no more then in any other commanded duty ordinance of the Lord but ought of duty to minister of their ca●…ail ●…ngs to them that labour amongst them in the word doctrine as well as they ought to pay any other work men their wages or to discharge satisfie their other debts or to submit themselves to observe any other ordinance of the Lord 3 The Apostle Gal 6 6. injoyning that he which is taught communicate to him that teacheth ●…ad good things doth not leave it arbitrary what or how much a man shall give or in what prop●…on but even the later as well as the former is prescribed appointed by the Lord 4 Not only members of Churches but all that are taught in in the word are to contribute unto him that teacheth in all good things In case that Congregations are defective in their contributions the Deacons are to call upon them to doe their duty if their call sufficeth not the church by her powr is to require it of their members where church-powr through the corruption of men doth not or can̄ot attaine the end the Magistrate is to see ministry be duely provided for as appeares from the commended example of Nehemiah The Magistrates are nursing fathers nursing mothers stand charged with the custody of both Tables because it is better to prevent a scandal that it may not come easier also then to remove it when it is given It s most suitable to Rule that by the churches care each man should know his proportion according to rule what he should doe before he doe it that so his iudgment heart may be satisfied in what he doeth just offence prevented in what is done CHAP XII Of Admission of members into the Church THe doors of the Churches of Christ upon earth doe not by Gods appointment stand so wide open that all sorts of people good or bad may freely enter therein at their pleasure but such as are admitted therto as members ought to be examined tryed first whether they be fit meet to be received into church-society or not The Evnuch of Aethiopia before his admission was examined by Philip whether he did beleive on Jesus Christ with all his heart the Auged of the church at Ephesus is commended for trying such as said they were Apostles were not There is like reason for trying of them that profess themselves to be beleivers The officers are charged with the keeping of the doors of the Church therfore are in a special man̄er to make try all of the fitnes of such who enter Twelve Angels are set at the gates of the Tem ple lest such as were Ceremonially unclean should enter therinto 2 The things which are requisite to be found in all church members are Repentance from sin saith in Jesus Christ And therfore these are the things wherof men are to be examined at their admission into the church which then they must profess hold forth in such sort as may satisfie rationall charity that the things are there indeed Iohn Baptist admitted men to Baptism confessing bewayling their sinns of other it is said that they came confessed shewed their deeds 3 The weakest measure of faith is to be accepted in t●…ose that desire to be admitted into the church becaus weak christians if sincere have the substance of that faith repentance holiness which is required in church members such have most need of the ordinances for their confirmation growth in grace The Lord Jesus would not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed but gather the tender lambes in his arms carry them gently in his bosome Such charity tenderness is to be used as the weakest christian if sincere may not be excluded nor discouraged Severity of examination is to be avoyded 4 In case any through excessive fear or other infirmity be unable to make their personal relation of their spirituall estate in publick it is sufficient that the Elders having received private satisfaction make relation therof in publick before the church they testifying their assents therunto this being the way that tendeth most to edification But